Performance Evaluation of Portable Modified Atmospheric Packaging Unit for Grain Disinfestations

Abstract

INTRODUCTIONIn India, grain production has been steadily increasing, due to advancement in production technology, but improper storage results, in high losses in grains. Post-harvest losses in India amounted to 12 to 16 million metric tons of food grains each year, which is an amount that could feed one-third of India's poor population (World Bank Report, 1999). The monetary value of these losses amounts to, more than Rs 50,000 corers per year (Singh, 2010).During storage, both quantitative and qualitative losses occur due to insects, rodents and micro-organisms. Grain storage plays an important role, in preventing losses which are caused, mainly due to beetles, moths, weevils and rodents (Kartikeyan et al, 2009). It is estimated that, 60-70% of food grain produced in the country is stored at home level, in indigenous storage structures. To reduce the storage losses of grains during storage period, modern storage structures and safe and scientific storage techniques are being used, which includes warehouses, cold storages, controlled atmospheric storage, modified atmospheric packaging, spraying the chemicals, controlled atmospheric grain storages, etc.Modified atmospheres (MA) or controlled atmospheres (CA) offer an alternative to the use of conventional residue producing chemical fumigants for controlling insect pests attacking stored grain, oilseeds, processed commodities, and some packaged foods. These atmospheres also prevent fungal growth and maintain product quality. The MA may be achieved in several ways by adding gaseous or solid CO2, by adding a gas of low O2content (e.g., pure N2) or by allowing metabolic processes within an airtight storage to remove O2, usually with associated release of CO2. They are collectively known as modified atmospheres '(Banks and Fields, 1995).Modified atmosphere storage of seeds is a suitable alternative to the use of chemical fumigants and contact