Safe storage

The knowledge and experience accumulated in over a decade of advisory work by the GTZ Post-Harvest Project has now been collected and summarized in a new handbook, Manual on the prevention of post-harvest grain losses. This has been written to provide practical instruction and assistance to storekeepers, plant protection technicians agricultural extension and quarantine staff and all those who are concerned with store e problems in their daily work. Particular attention has been paid to the storage of cereals and legumes. Throughout the book, simple, low-cost facilities and storage methods have been described, appropriate to the requirements of developing countries. In recent decades significant changes have taken place as a result of increased crop yields, the cultivation of new varieties that are often more susceptible to attack by storage pests than traditional ones, and the spread of new pests. These changes have diminished the effectiveness of established storage systems and there is now a need to adapt traditional practices and develop new alternatives. This handbook provides a practical link between old and new ideas. The effects on stored produce of different climatic conditions such as temperature and relative humidity, are explained. Farm and village level storage containers and buildings are described and illustrated as well as the construction of larger, centralized storage and stacking systems. There are details of the fungi and insects which damage stored crops, together with methods of control by insecticides, fumigation and integrated pest management techniques. Particular attention is given throughout to the safety measures which must be taken when using chemicals. The manual ends by addressing the problems of dealing with larger pests, such as rats. Manual on the prevention of postharvest grain losses by J Gwinner, R Hamisch and O Muck 1990 294pp Published by GTZ, Postfach 5180 D-6236 Eschborn, GERMANYManual on the prevention of postharvest grain losses by J Gwinner, R Hamisch and O Muck 1990 294pp Published by GTZ, Postfach 5180 D-6236 Eschborn, GERMAN