The history of agriculture dates back thousands of years, and its development has been driven and defined by greatly different climates, cultures, and technologies. However, all farming generally relies on techniques to expand and maintain the lands that are suitable for raising domesticated species. For plants, this usually requires some form of irrigation, although there are methods of dry land farming; pastoral herding on rangeland is still the most common means of raising livestock.
In the developed world, industrial agriculture based on large-scale monoculture has become the dominant system of modern farming, although there is growing support for sustainable agriculture. Until the Industrial Revolution, the vast majority of the human population labored in agriculture. Pre-industrial agriculture was typically subsistence agriculture in which farmers raised most of their crops for their own consumption instead of for trade. A remarkable shift in agricultural practices has occurred over the past century in response to new technologies, and the development of world markets. This also led to technological improvements in agricultural techniques, such as the Haber-Bosch method for synthesizing ammonium nitrate which made the traditional practice of recycling nutrients with crop rotation and animal manure less necessary.Storage is an important marketing function, which involves holding and preserving goods from the time they are produced until they are needed for consumption. Agriculture storage is any deposit or holdings of farm products, fertilizers, grains, feed and other related supplies in facilities or containers, often to prevent contamination or for times when production cannot meet demand.
One of the main reasons that I choose this topic because food production is vital for everyone. It is one of the few things that every person requires on a daily basis. Agriculture has taught many valuable lessons that will affect the for the rest of mankind life. It has taught mankind the importance of hard work; and it has taught them responsibility for everything they do in life. Agriculture has given the human race a continuing chance to gain knowledge in many different fields of agriculture from crop production to the proper ways to raise livestock and much more. It has also given them the chance to educate others about agriculture, showing them that agriculture is not just about driving a tractor around in a field but it is much more. It is figuring out and implementing polices that can ensure the protection of the nation’s agriculture supply that can be grown in dry regions.
Grain storage is one of the main aspects of seed technology and many research works have been dedicated to grain storage conditions. The longevity of grains during storage depends on two main factors: grain properties and storage conditions. It has been revealed that in low seed moisture and low temperature storage condition the longevity of seeds will improve. However, seeds may be divided into two categories with respect to their viability characteristics (Ellis and Roberts1982): orthodox and recalcitrant. Orthodox seeds are those which can de dried to low moisture contents. Over a wide range of conditions their longevity increases with decrease in both moisture content and temperature in quantifiable and predictable way.
A number of species produce seeds which are killed if they are dried a little below the fully hydrated conditions and, even if they are kept in under optimal moist conditions, they lose viability in a relatively short time. The seed viability cannot be improved only though improving two mentioned factors, since pests also affect seed longevity through seed deterioration increasing and also physical damage to seeds. Seed quality and quantity are economically important since seed production is a high cost practice. The damage of storage pests to cereals has been estimated to be 15-23 million tones. Pests not only decrease seed quantity by reducing their weight, but also decrease seed quality through reducing viability and seed vigor.
Regarding the economic effects of pests, it is necessary to improve storage condition to reduce pest contamination. One of the most important ways to better storage of grain crops has been mentioned in holy Quran: “He replied: you shall sow for seven years as is your way. Leave in the ear (of corn) you reap, except a little which you eat. Thereafter, seven hard years will come upon you, which will consume all but little of that which you have stored. (Yusuf 47 and 48)”. One of the specificities of these verses of Quran is the way of the grain storage for avoiding pest contamination. In other words, cereal seed storage with their ear helps us avoid pest attacks.
Traditionally, food in America is produced through a series of processes commonly referred to as the “farm to table” continuum. This process is comprised of multiple components, including production, distribution, processing, transportation, wholesaling, exporting/importing, retail sales, and consumption. Each component of the “farm to table” continuum is achieved in a variety of ways specific to the particular end product being produced. At multiple stages of these processes, raw agricultural products, farm input supplies, and consumer-ready foods are stored in large facilities. These agricultural storage facilities include facilities storing raw agricultural products (wheat, corn, apples, etc.) prior to processing; farm input supplies (fertilizers, chemicals, etc.), live animals (cattle, swine, chickens, etc.), or processed products ready for distribution and consumption (cheese, cereals, packaged products, etc. In this regard, there is not a “typical” agricultural storage facility.
The consequences associated with an attack on an agricultural storage facility or a series of coordinated attacks across multiple facilities would depend on the type of event(s), the location of the event and the type of facility involved. Particular consequences can only be estimated or inferred from historical events. Traditionally, much of the emphasis for food-borne contamination has been focused on the actual food production processes and processing facilities. In addition to the inspection of processing facilities, industry focuses its resources on testing for and diagnosis of particular pathogens and toxins in the food processing process. Food storage facilities have received comparatively little consideration from a food security perspective. Estimating the consequence of a deliberate contamination of or an attack on an agricultural storage facility depends on the downstream impact of the consumption and distribution of the products stored at a particular location. There is, of course, a local impact associated with the destruction of a particular facility.
Historical cases can illustrate the quick and far-reaching potential of this type of event. In 1984,members of a religious cult in Dalles, Oregon, contaminated salad bars with salmonella serotype typhimurium. Though the attack was locally contained, 751 people became ill, and the surrounding medical resources were strained beyond their normal capacity. In addition, the event spread fear throughout the U.S. and temporarily impacted the revenues normally generated at these types of eating establishments. Recent outbreaks of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) and Foot and Mouth Disease(FMD) in Britain in 1994 and 2001, respectively, provide some perspective on the human and economic impacts of contagious diseases spread through the cattle population. Bear in mind that the spread of such diseases can take place at storage facilities where there is an increased risk of infection spreading. It is not, however, safe to assume that the spread and impact of diseases and biological agents are directly linked to vulnerabilities at agricultural storage facilities. During the 1994 BSE outbreak, Britain experienced a 40% drop in cattle sales and a 26% drop in domestic household consumption of beef and veal. In the 2001 FMD outbreak, more than $63 million was paid in indemnities to farmers for the slaughter and quarantine of infected cattle. Additionally, the estimated cost to the British economy was between $3.6 billion and $11.6 billion(U.S. dollars) for FMD and roughly $5.8 billion (U.S. dollars) for BSE.
Civilization began with agriculture. When our nomadic ancestors began to settle and grow their own food, human society was forever changed. Not only did villages, towns and cities begin to flourish, but so did knowledge, the arts and the technological sciences. And for most of history, society's connection to the land was intimate. Human communities, no matter how sophisticated, could not ignore the importance of agriculture. To be far from dependable sources of food was to risk malnutrition and starvation. Storage is an important marketing function, which involves holding and preserving goods from the time they are produced until they are needed for consumption. Therefore, the storage of goods from the time of production to the time of consumption, ensures a continuous flow of goods in the market.
Storage of the agricultural outputs protects the quality of perishable and semi-perishable products from deterioration. For example, some of the goods like woolen garments, have a seasonal demand and to cope with this demand, production on a continuous basis and storage become necessary. It helps in the stabilization of prices by adjusting demand and supply.
One of the types of the agriculture storage is the underground storage. The underground storage structures are dugout structures similar to a well with sides plastered with cow dung. They may also be lined with stones or sand and cement. They may be circular or rectangular in shape. The capacity varies with the size of the structure. The advantages of underground are the underground storage structures are safer from threats from various external sources of damage, such as theft, rain or wind.
The underground storage space can temporarily be utilized for some other purposes with minor adjustments and the underground storage structures are easier to fill up owing to the factor of gravity. The other types of agriculture storage is the surface storage structures. Food grains in a ground surface structure can be stored in bag storage. When store in a bag storage each bag contains a definite quantity, which can be bought, sold or dispatched without difficulty. The bags are easier to load or unload. It is easier to keep separate lots with identification marks on the bags. The bags which are identified as infested on inspection can be removed and treated easily and the problem of the sweating of grains does not arise because the surface of the bag is exposed to the atmosphere.The benefits of using the bag storage are the exposed peripheral surface area per unit weight of grain is less. Consequently, the danger of damage from external sources is reduced. Pest infestation is less because of almost airtight conditions in the deeper layers.Products can be stored in many different kinds of storage containers varying from earthen gourds, baskets, cribs and suchlike, to big metal or cement silos.
Depending on financial possibilities, available materials and external circumstances (climate) one can choose from the storage methods mentioned below. Again it is emphasized that every storage container, no matter what it looks like or what it is made of, should keep the product dry and cool, and protect it against insects, fungi, rodents, domestic animals and thieves. A small part which is infested by insects or fungi or has a too high moisture content may spoil the whole amount. That is why in one storage container only uniform batches should be stored. One of the method that can be used is by using earthen pots and gourds. Especially in the dry tropics, earthenware pots and gourds (the hard, dried outside cases of certain fruits or vegetables) are very useful for storing small quantities. They should be kept inside or under a shelter. Above the kitchen (a place where there are few insects) is a good place. By treating the pots and gourds with varnish, paint or linseed oil, and sealing the lids with mud or cow dung an airtight form of storage is obtained (also suitable for the wet tropics).
The bag storage is suitable for small quantities of cereals, beans, groundnuts, and also for the storage of sowing seed. It can stored for about 1 year. The contents is about 5-30 litres. If metal drums (water tanks or oil drums) are available, they can be used for storage after cleaning them well. The drums should never be placed in direct sunlight because of the dangers of the product becoming caked to the inside wall, of moisture changes and heating of the stored product. They should either be placed under a good roof or should be insulated with a layer of straw. They can be used in the dry and humid tropics. In warm, wet places the drums may rust quickly unless precautions are taken.
If they are airtight when closed it is possible to combat insects without using insecticides. It is suitable forcereals, pulses, sowing seed. The metal drums can be stored up to one year.It is estimated that each year between 25 and 40% of stored agricultural products is lost because of inadequate farm- and village-level storage. In the field and during storage the products are threatened by insects, rodents, birds and other pests. Moreover, the product may be spoiled by infection from fungi, yeasts or bacteria. In addition, for sowing seed it is important that the viability (its capacity to germinate) is maintained. Losses during storage may occur in many ways like the losses in weight due to insects, rodents or birds eating the grain and deterioration through fungus growth and rotting. It also can occur when loss in quality through biting damage, insect and rodent excrement and fungus growth. Furthermore, other reason the agricultural outputs will spoiled it is because of insects. The insects are six-legged invertebrates. Their soft inside parts are protected by an external skeleton. The life cycle of an insect goes through the following stages: adult - egg - larva - pupa - adult. Adults and larvae damage grains, either by eating them or by spoiling them. Infected products also become more vulnerable to other insects, fungi and bacteria. Already in the field products may be infected by insects and during storage their number will rapidly increase. The female adults lay their eggs on the surface of a grain, between grains or sometimes inside the grain. The larvae hatching from the eggs are often the big grain eaters. A larva growing inside a grain eats out the inside of it.
The pupa is the transitional stage between the larva and adult stages. During this stage the growing insect needs no food. From the pupa the adult emerges, and continues eating the grain and then lays more eggs. Most of the insects that affect stored grains develop most rapidly at temperatures between 25 and 30 °C and a relative humidity in between 70 and 80%. However, they may still develop, although at a lower rate, at lower or higher temperatures and relative humidity.
In conclusion, agricultural storage has an important fundamental purpose to allow people to consume good quality with high nutritional content of good health. It is crucial to have a secured agriculture storage so that the agricultural outputs do not end up being spoiled.
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1 - Norman Leslie Kent - Introduction to Agriculture Storage - A.D Evers - Page 90 - 2006
2- Hamdollah Eskandari - Agriculture Landscape in the Holy Quran - IJACS - Page 233 - 2013
3- Carl W.Hall - Drying and Storage of Agricultural Crops - AVI. Co - Page 125 - 1980
5- D.L Proctor - Agriculture Storage Techniques - GASGA - Page 242 - 1994
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