Tribune News ServiceLudhiana, April 26
Keeping in view the current harvesting season, scientists at Punjab Agricultural University have advised farmers on efficient and effective ways of storing foodgrains. The advice comes in wake of the damage caused to stored grains due to pests.
In an article published in the recent issue of Progressive Farming, a journal of PAU, two entomologists, Dr G.S. Deol and Dr Anureet Josan have said that grains should be cleaned and properly dried before storing.
The scientists have further advised that it should be ensured that the godowns were cleaned thoroughly and all holes, cracks and crevices plugged before storing grains. The godowns should be moisture proof and should be disinfected by spraying 0.05 per cent malathion. Alternatively, the godowns could be fumigated with aluminium phosphide at the rate of 25 tablets per cubic meter space.
For storing the grains in bags these scientists have advised the use of only clean and disinfected gunny bags. The filled bags should be staked on wooden platforms, away from the wall.
To save the grains from rats, the pests should be killed by feeding them poison bait. The commonly and effectively used bait is 2 per cent zinc. It can be prepared by smearing one kg of Bajra, Sorghum or cracked wheat grains with 25 gm of zinc phosphide after mixing it with 20 gm of oil. This bait should be evenly distributed in the godowns.
The pests of stored grains like susri, dhora and khapra beetle do considerable harm to the grains. Infestation of the grains by these pests can even cause 100 per cent damage and render the grains unfit for consumption. But, say the scientists, this damage can be prevented if control measures are followed in advance.
