Preservation

Punjab State Warehousing Corporation maintains stringent quality norms for all stored agricultural stock. A brief information feature of the same is provided below.

GODOWNS

Food grain storage should be done in own constructed godowns or hired ones which confirms to specifications of Class-I godowns and are free from seepage, water leakage, well ventilated with required plinths, cement plastered and located out of Mandi and Rice Shellers, Flour mills to avoid problem of cross infestation. The godowns in question should be disinfested with DDVP / Malathion for controlling residual living infestation.

PLINTHS

The open plinths should be attached with pucca motorable roads away from flour mills and rice shellers which are the major sources of cross infestation. The plinths should be free from obnoxious smell / garbage. The plinths should be given anti termite treatment before storage of stocks to protect the stocks from the termites which cause considerable damage to the wooden crates / stocks.

DUNNAGE

The open plinths should be attached with pucca motorable roads away from flour mills and rice shellers which are the major sources of cross infestation. The plinths should be free from obnoxious smell / garbage. The plinths should be given anti termite treatment before storage of stocks to protect the stocks from the termites which cause considerable damage to the wooden crates / stocks.

PRE- PLANNING

Stacks plan should be made well in advance before going ahead in stacking of food grain stacks. The stack plan should be made in such a manner so that the gate of the godowns both the sides face each other to ensure free circulation of air in the godown which is an important factor for preserving the stocks during storage. The alleyways should be at least 2.5 feet wide around the stacks in order to facilitate proper inspection and dis-infestation treatment

SAMPLING ANALYSIS

The sampling of stocks at the time of its receipt shpuld be done in order to know the quality of stocks. The drawn samples should be analysed properly and its results be incorporated in the analysis register WHRs.

STACKING

Only standard cover size stack of size 30'x20' with proper height upto 15-16 layers should be built in the godowns / open. In case of paddy stocks chimney system should be provided in the middle of stacks from bottom to top to facilitate free circulation of air. The stacking of the stocks should be started in different stacks and the stack height should be raised up to 5' in the first instance and further storgae be done after proper airation so that the moisture content is reduced to the maximum to avoid wet heating. The stacks in open should be built in such a way so that it forms a dome for proper drainage of water from the top.

EXHIBITING OF STACK CARDS

A stack card should be exhibited on each stack indicating the stack number, WHR, date of deposit of stocks, name of depositors, number of bags stored and stock plan, possibly in polythene bags to protect it from spray, and during movement / removal of stack. All the stack cards should be kept in record till stack is killed.

DISINFESTATION TREATMENT

To ensure that no hidden infestation is carried over from the field or through the gunnies used, the storage of stocks in a particular godown / plinth as and when is completed should be given prophylactic fumigation treatment @ 2 tablets of aluminium phosphide per MT of stocks followed by periodical spray with DDVP, Deltamethrin and airation. Regular inspection of the stocks should be done as and when the infestation is noticed in stocks the concerned stocks should be given fumigation treatment @ three tablets of aluminium phoisphide per MT of stocks followed by periodical spray treatment. In case of godown fumigation the godowns should be made fully air tight.

USE OF INSECTICIDES

Alunminium Phosphide: Fumigation with aluminium phosphide should be done @ 3 tablets per MT of stocks under the gas proof covers as and when infestation is noticed. The phrophylactic fumigation to the fresh stocks should be done @ 2 tablets per MT of stocks.

Malathion: It should be sprayed on walls / alleyways / bags / surface. It should be used in the emulsion on 1:100 i.e. 1 part of malathion and 100 parts of water. 3 Ltrs of prepared solution should be sprayed in 100 sq mts (approximate dose 4 CC per 100 bags)..

DDVP: It should be sprayed on walls / alleyways / empty space in the emulsion of 1:150 ie. 1 paret of DDVP and 150 parts of water. 3 Ltrs of prepared solution should be sprayed on 100 sq. mts.

Deltamethrin: 120 gms of deltamethrin mixed in 3 ltrs of water should be sprayed in 100 sq mts of surface area once in three months.