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An ASABE Meeting Presentation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.13031/aim.202200252
Paper Number: 2200252
Hermetic Storage Technology to Reduce Postharvest Loss of
Paddy: Farmers to Commercial Scale
Md. Monjurul Alam*, Md. Rostom Ali*, Shibendra Narayan Gope, Md. Abdul Awal and Alex E Winter-
Nelson1
Department of Farm Power and Machinery, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Bangladesh
1Director, ADMI, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, USA
*Corresponding author: mmalam@bau.edu.bd; rostomfpm@bau.edu.bd
Written for presentation at the
2022 ASABE Annual International Meeting
Sponsored by ASABE
Houston, Texas
July 17–20, 2022
ABSTRACT. Paddy is one of the paramount food crops in Bangladesh. Farmers use Dole, Gola, Auri, Plastic bag, Jute
bag, Plastic drum, and Motka as traditional storage structures for storing paddy seed and grain, and incur significant
loss. Public and private sector commercial actors also store paddy grain and seed in jute bag. In this study, improved
hermetic GrainPro bag and Cocoon were introduced to farmers and public-private sector actors’ level, respectively. More
than 2000 farmers received GrainPro bag and training from PHLIL-Bangladesh project. Highest insect infestation
(157/250 g) was found in traditional Motka and no insect in GrainPro bag. Weight loss and germination rate in Motka and
GrainPro bag were found 1.6%, 65% and 0.15%, 92%, respectively. Similarly, performances of hermetic cocoon were
evaluated in the warehouses of Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) and in a commercial Rice
Mill. Moisture content and germination rate of paddy seed stored in jute bag in BADC warehouses fluctuated with ambient
conditions, however those were found unchanged in cocoon. Higher germination rates (91%) were retained in paddy seed
stored in cocoon over traditional storage in gunny bag (84.25%). Hermetic storage technologies also eliminated the
application of harmful insecticides and pesticides during storage. Hermetic GrainPro bag and Cocoon are found
financially feasible and recommended to use for paddy seed and grain storage in Bangladesh at farmers and commercial
scale, respectively.
Keywords. Traditional storage, Germination, GrainPro bag, Hermetic cocoon, Paddy, and Paddy seed.
1. Introduction
Bangladesh is the fourth largest paddy producer in the world (Statista, 2021). Paddy is the staple food and accounts for
about 93% of the total food produced in Bangladesh. Farmers of Bangladesh usually sell a large portion of their harvested
paddy at a flat rate to rice mills through a series of commission agents during harvesting periods, dry and store for own
consumption purpose or to use as seed in the next season, or to enjoy higher price during off-season. Actually, consumable
paddy is stored at farmers’ house and at 17,000 rice mills of Bangladesh (Saha et al., 2021). Farmers need paddy seed in
The authors are solely responsible for the content of this meeting presentation. The presentation does not necessarily reflect the official position of the
American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE), and its printing and distribution does not constitute an endorsement of views
which may be expressed. Meeting presentations are not subject to the formal peer review process by ASABE editorial committees; therefore, they are
not to be presented as refereed publications. Publish your paper in our journal after successfully completing the peer review process. See
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three paddy planting seasons: Aus season (March-Mid May), Aman season (Mid May-Mid August), and Boro season (Mid
December-Mid February).Though farmers store paddy seed but they mainly depend on Bangladesh Agricultural
Development Corporation (BADC) for quality seed. BADC is only the government large-scale paddy seed producing and
storing organization for farmers under the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), Government of the Peoples’ Republic of
Bangladesh. BADC produces seeds and collects seeds through contract growers, accordingly process and store the seeds in
its seed godowns. Annual paddy seed demand of Bangladesh is estimated 3,58,357 metric ton in the fiscal year 2019-2020
of which BADC supplies above 24.40% paddy seeds (46.03% in Boro season, 11.57% in Aman season and 8.91% in Aus
season) of the total demand to the farmers of Bangladesh (MoA, 2020) and so BADC is an entrusted national organization
with the task of production, processing, storage of quality seeds and making them available to the farmers. So, annual
paddy grain and seed of Bangladesh are mainly stored at three levels: farm households, small commercial traders/rice
mills and in the large-scale storage centers of government like BADC.
Dry, clean and cool paddy grain and seed are usually stored for long time in traditional storage technologies like gunny
bag, Motka, plastic bag, Dole, steel/plastic drum, etc. available in Bangladesh. The traditional methods of paddy storage
have no or limited control of humidity, temperature, insects, rodents, etc. Therefore, traditional methods of storage cause
deterioration of seed health and quality through the activities of insects, mites, and rodents. Farmers of Bangladesh usually
use neem leaf in the storage structures whereas commercial rice mills generally use rodent repellent to preserve the quality
of stored paddy but however these preventive measures are ineffective. Use of chemical fumigants has been a prominent
method of controlling pests and microorganisms in stored grain at the bulk storage centers of government. However
chemical fumigants employed improperly, leave harmful residues in the grain and are a potential health hazard for the
person doing fumigation (Navarro, 2012). Gradually, major pests of stored cereals such as Rhyzopertha dominica and
Liposcelis bostrychophila are developing resistance against commonly used chemical fumigants (Collins et al., 2005;
Lorini et al., 2007; Nayak et al., 2003). A considerable amount of paddy grains is lost because of those traditional paddy
storage methods. Annual loss of paddy during storage in Bangladesh was estimated to be 3-8% in the year 1993(Bala,
1993), 3.05-7.50% in the year 2015(Bari, 2015) and 6.2% after five month storage in the year 2017 (Awa l , et al., 2017).
Seed is one of the vital inputs for crop production and so it is an important aspect of any sound seed program, because
badly stored seeds are unable to yield healthy and vigorous plant. Without quality seed nobody can expect better crop
yield. Since, seeds are the future plants, so it should be stored as a living organism. A seed is physiologically quite stable
after harvesting as well as its viability should be preserved in a good storage method. To overcome these problems
improved paddy storage technologies can be used in Bangladesh. The leading seed supplying organization BADC deploy
additional manpower associated with extra costs for properly storing seed but falls in vain to maintain the desired moisture
content (12% or less), insect free environment and germination rate (above 80%) of the stored seeds.
Existing problems of storing paddy grain and seed can be solved easily utilizing the lethal effect of a low O2/ high CO2
atmosphere produced through respiration processes of stored products. Hermetic grain storage technologies such as
GrainPro bag and Hermetic Cocoon strive to eliminate all exchange of gases between the inside and the outside of a grain
storage container. If the gas exchange is low enough, living organisms such as insects within the container will deplete
oxygen and produce carbon dioxide until they die or become inactive due to the low oxygen. To know the effectiveness of
these improved seed storing technologies their technical and financial performance need to be assessed and compared with
traditional methods in Bangladesh context. Hence, Feed the Future USAID funded project “Post-Harvest Loss Reduction
Innovation Lab (PHLIL)-Bangladesh Phase II” project, Department of Farm Power and Machinery, Bangladesh
Agricultural University, Bangladesh introduced GrainPro bag at the farmers level and hermetic cocoon at the commercial
rice mill and at government seed storage centers for field test. This article will delineate the superiority of the selected
paddy storage technologies over traditional methods.
2. Materials and Methods
2.1 Location and layout of the study
Farm level traditional paddy storage technologies were investigated at Mymensingh and Jashore regions of Bangladesh.
The comparative experiment between improved storage technology and traditional storing methods was conducted at the
PHLIL Advanced Storage Lab, Postharvest Loss Reduction Innovation Lab (PHLIL)-Bangladesh project, Department of
Farm Power and Machinery (DFPM), Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU), Mymensingh. Performance of hermetic
cocoon was assessed to compare with traditional methods for the period of four months at BADC seed processing and
storage center, Madhupur, Tangail, Bangladesh and at Moti Auto Rice Mill, Shyamganj, Purbadhala, Netrokona,
Bangladesh. The location of the study sites is shown in figure 1.
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Figure 1. GPS location of the study sites
2.2 Sample size and design
A survey on available paddy storage technology at farmers’ level was conducted in two selected locations of Bangladesh
through a pretested well-structured questionnaire. Purposive sampling technique was used in this survey for collecting data
from 200 farmers. Data were collected in face to face interviews through personal visits to the selected farmers’ house. At
the beginning of interview, the aims and objectives of the survey were explained to each farmer and consent was taken for
the voluntary participation in this interview.
2.3 Experimental set up
Moisture content of paddy under experiment was reduced to about 12%. Then hot paddy was cooled and cleaned well
before storing. Five storage treatments- Dole, Motka, Plastic drum, Plastic bag, and GrainPro bag were used during the
study. All the storage containers were dried and cleaned well before storing paddy. Dole, Motka, Plastic bag, Plastic drum
were used as the traditional paddy storing methods whereas GrainPro bag was tested as improved paddy storing methods
(Figure 2). After filling the containers, opening of Motka and Plastic drum was covered by earthen and plastic lid,
respectively and in GrainPro bag by its own instrument i.e. used clip to close the opening to protect the paddy against
insects and rodents. The experimental containers were kept at a raised platform made of wood or bamboo.
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Figure 2. Traditional paddy storage at PHLIL Advanced Storage Lab
At bulk storage level, gunny bags are used to store paddy in a stack (known as lot) both at BADC and at rice mills (Figure
3). This study used an additional GrainPro PE type hermetic cocoon to cover up the traditional stack from all side to
ensure a hermetic environment inside the cocoon. The experiments were laid out with three replications of each storage
treatments, i.e. traditional storage system and improved storage system. Data based on the design parameters were
collected during storage period. Moisture content, insect infestation,O2 and CO2 inside improved storage systems for first
31 days of the storage, weight loss of grain, and germination of paddy seed were also investigated at the storage and
opening day.
Figure 3. Hermetic cocoon set up for large-scale paddy seed storage at BADC
2.4 Moisture content
Moisture contents of paddy were determined using digital moisture meter like INDOSAW. Moisture content was
expressed as percentage on dry weight basis. Seed moistures were determined at the first day and final opening day of
storage. Besides these two days, moisture content was also determined at regular 15 days interval in case of traditional
storage system.
2.5 Prevalence of insect pest
Paddy sample of 250 g was collected from the top layer of storage technologies (10-15 cm) by a sampler and kept in
polythene bag with an identification card and tied with a thread. For easy identification and counting, samples were kept in
freeze (2-4°C) for few minutes to make insect immobile. Then total number of insects was counted for each sample.
Different prevailing insects were identified based on their respective identifying character.
2.6 O2 and CO2concentration level
An intensive experiment was conducted to monitor O2 and CO2 concentration level in the improved paddy storage
technologies using a Mocon PAC Check Model 325 headspace analyzer.O2 and CO2 inside of the hermetic bag and
cocoon were monitored twice in a day for first 31 days of the storage. The O2 and CO2 concentrations were measured by
inserting the needle of the Mocon analyzer at the specified valve-based hole of the hermetic bag and cocoon.
2.7 Weight loss
Storage losses of each storage methods were measured by taking weight before and after storage with the difference as
quantitative loss. The percentage of actual weight loss counted using the Equation 1.
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Weight loss (%)=
×100 (1)
2.8 Germination test
The germination rate provides an indication of effectiveness of any storage technique. Germination quality is one of the
greatest attributes of hermetic storage technologies when compared to other traditional storage systems. Germination (%)
of stored paddy seed was determined on sand media in plastic box following the International Seed Testing Association
(ISTA, 1999) Rules. Germination of seed was calculated from the 400 sample collected randomly at the first and opening
day of storage. Besides these, germination percentage was also determined using the samples taken at 15 days interval
from traditional storage systems. Germination percentage was calculated at 14 days after seed setting by the following
Equation 2.
Germination (%)=
×100 (2)
2.9 Financial analysis
Benefit Cost Ratio and payback period are considered as the most important parameters for assessing the financial
attractiveness of a technology. In this study, Equations 3 and 4 were used respectively to calculate these key parameters
for all the storage technologies selected in this study.
Benefit cost ratio (BCR) =
()
()
(3)
where,
Bt = Total benefit (TK./ton) in tth year.
Ct = Total cost (TK./ton) in tth year.
t = Number of years
i = Interest (discount) rate.
Payback period (year)=
× (4)
3. Results and Discussion
3.1 Traditional storage technologies at farm level
Eleven different types of storage technologies namely, Dole, Motka, Tin, Plastic drum, Gunny Bag, Bamboo Gola, Dhari,
Bamboo Auri, Berh, Steel drum, and Plastic bag were identified at farm level. About 11, 53, 10 and 10% farmers were
found to use Plastic bag, Dole, Bamboo made Auri and Bamboo made Gola, respectively in the study areas. About 55%
and 8% farmers stored paddy for food and seed purposes, respectively. Majority of the farmers (78%) use no insect
repellent during paddy storage. Despite of using Nishinda, or Neem leaf as insecticides (about 22% farmers) in storage
containers qualitative and quantitative loss of paddy was observed during long time storage.
3.2Moisture content
The initial moisture content of paddy stored in Dole, Motka, Plastic drum, Plastic bag, and GrainPro bag was 12%. After
five months of storage, moisture content of stored paddy changed considerably. Maximum moisture content was recorded
in Dole (15.6%) followed by Motka, Plastic bag, and Plastic drum. Minimum fluctuation of moisture content was found in
GrainPro bag (12.15%). Rate of change of moisture content was higher in Dole followed by Motka, Plastic bag, Plastic
drum and GrainPro bag. At commercial level storage, the initial moisture content of paddy seeds stored in gunny bag and
hermetic cocoon were same (11.37%). The moisture content of paddy stored in gunny bags was found in between 11.37%
to 12.49% at 15 days regular interval (Figure 4). However, hermetic cocoon maintained same moisture content (11.37%)
of paddy seeds throughout the storage period.
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Figure 4. Variation of moisture content of paddy seed stored in hermetic cocoon and in traditional gunny bag at BADC
3.3 Insect Infestation
Abundance of the prevailing insect pests viz, S. cerealla, S. oryzae, T. casteneum, and R. domonica were varied with
storage technologies. Insect population abundance irrespective of species in different storage technologies was recorded
and insect population influenced significantly by storage technologies. Maximum population was found in Motka (157
insects/ 250 g paddy) followed by Dole (137), Plastic bag (48) and Plastic drum (20). No insect was detected in GrainPro
up to five months of storage. The rate of increase of insect infestation was highest in Dole followed by Motka, Plastic bag
and Plastic drum. Insect infestations were also observed physically for the whole storage period of the traditional storage
and the hermetic cocoon storage at BADC. Though there was no insect infestation in both practices, but traditional storing
methods at BADC required several times fumigation, spraying, re-drying and re-lotting: a common practice of BADC.
3.4 O2 and CO2 concentration level
O2 concentration level of paddy stored in GrainPro bag and hermetic cocoon was decreased slowly from initial 20.76% to
4.71% and from initial 19.86% to 3.70%, respectively within first fourth week of storage. Meanwhile, CO2 concentration
gradually increased from initial 0.19%to 10.26% in GrainPro bag and from initial 0.44% to 11.24% in hermetic cocoon
(Figure 5). The reduction of oxygen level in hermetic storage technologies was primarily due to its air tight system and
also the insects in seeds consume O2available inside the hermetic storage structures for respiration and increase CO2
concentration accordingly until the insects are no longer survived. As a result, insect/larvae of insect were found dead
when reopened. But in case of traditional storing methods, Dole, Motka, Plastic drum, and Plastic bag were exposed to
ambient environment and hence there was no provision to control O2 and CO2 concentration level in it. Even, O2 and CO2
concentration level in locally available company seed pack, also remained constant as atmospheric conditions (20.76 and
0.20%, respectively) during paddy storage and did not show any hermetic sealed storage effect.
Figure 5. O2 and CO2 concentration level in hermetic cocoon
0
5
10
15
20
25
1 6 11 16 21 26 31
O2 (%)
CO2 (%)
Storage day
O
2
(%) and CO
2
(%)
10
11
12
13
14
15
1st 15th 30th 45th 60th 75th 90th
Moisture content (%)
Storage days
Traditional storage
Hermetic storage
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3.5 Weight loss
Variation of percent weight loss of stored paddy was observed in different storing methods. Maximum weight loss of
paddy was found 1.60% in Motka after five months of storage followed by Plastic bag (1.52%), Dole (1.39%), Plastic
drum (0.39%), gunny bag (0.39%), GrainPro bag (0.15%). The lowest percentage weight loss was observed in hermetic
cocoon (0.043%). It indicates that hermetic storage reduces the storage loss in compare with traditional storage.
3.6 Germination quality
Germination percentage of paddy seed was 97% when sample collected at the very first day of storage. After 5 months of
storage in Dole, Motka, Plastic drum, Plastic bag, and GrainPro bag, it was seen that germination percentage of stored
paddy seed reduced significantly from initial. However, highest germination (%) was recorded in GrainPro bag (92%)
followed by Plastic drum (81%). Germination was found less than acceptable limit (80%) in Dole, Plastic bag and Motka.
In case of bulk paddy seed storage at BADC, germination percentage of paddy seed stored at traditional gunny bag
reduced from initial 89% to 84.25% during the storage period of 3 months. But however, almost unchanged trend of
germination rate was observed in hermetic cocoon (Figure 6). Germination (%) of paddy seed stored in PE type hermetic
cocoon increased to about 91% from initial 89%. Findings show that storage technologies have an effect on germination
rate of paddy seed. Inappropriate storage conditions often result in seed deterioration and loss of viability. Several factors,
namely, temperature, nature of the seeds, seed moisture content, relative humidity, and so forth, influence the seed
longevity during storage (Pradhan and Badola, 2012). Hermetic storage technologies such as GrainPro bag and hermetic
cocoon had showed an edge over traditional storage methods in maintaining proper storage condition for paddy seed and
preserved the potential of germination.
Figure 6. Germination percentage of paddy seed in case of hermetic cocoon and traditional gunny bag storage
3.7 Financial performance of storage technologies
Net benefit obtained from per ton of paddy seed storage in Motka, plastic bag, plastic drum, gunny bag, GrainPro bag and
hermetic cocoon was BDT 163, BDT 1441, BDT 2893, BDT 4557, BDT 6265, and BDT 7598, respectively (Table 1).
Benefit Cost Ratio (BCR) and payback period of Motka, plastic bag, plastic drum, gunny bag, GrainPro bag and hermetic
cocoon were found 4, 6.9, 35.6, 1.1, 25.9, and 1.2; and 36.8, 0.33, 2.07, 12, 0.57, and 12 months, respectively.
Table 1. Financial analysis of the storage technologies
Technology
Motka
Plastic bag
Plastic drum
Gunny bag
GrainPro bag
Hermetic cocoon
Net benefit
(BDT)
163
1441
2893
4557
6265
7598
BCR
4
6.9
35.6
1.1
25.9
1.2
Payback period
(months)
36.8
0.33
2.07
12
0.57
12
80
82
84
86
88
90
92
1st 15th 30th 45th 60th 75th 90th
Germination (%)
Storage days
Traditional storage
Hermetic storage
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4. Conclusion
Quality of stored paddy continuously changes when stored in traditional and at ambient room conditions due to the
variation of temperature and relative humidity. In the study, hermetic storage technologies maintained the quality of grain
and protected paddy seed from insect infestation. The physical properties of paddy stored in hermetic technologies were
found good. For controlling insect, chemical application is not required in hermetic storage systems. It is a non-chemical
type of storage; no aeration and no fumigation are required. Hermetic sealing properties of GrainPro and cocoon take care
the issues in grain storage such as insect infestation, constant moisture content, maintains the quality of stored grains and
germination percentage. So, GrainPro bag and hermetic cocoon can be prescribed to use for storing paddy grain and seed
at farm level and at large-scale commercial level, respectively in tropics and developing countries like Bangladesh.
Acknowledgements
This research was performed by as part of PHLIL Phase II project “Post-Harvest Loss Reduction Innovation Lab (PHLIL)
Phase II -Bangladesh” is made possible by the support of the American People provided to the Feed the Future Innovation
Lab for Post-Harvest Loss Reduction Innovation Lab (PHLIL) through the United States Agency for International
Development (USAID) and ADM Institute for the Prevention of Post-Harvest Loss, University of Illinois, USA. The
contents are the sole responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States
Government.
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