Storage of sorghum

Winnowing of sorghum

The harvested ear heads are dried before threshing. The grain is separated from the ear-heads by using a mechanical thresher or by drawing a stone roller over the ear-heads or trampling under the feet of cattle.The separated grain is then cleaned by winnowing (Fig.) and dried.

Mud bin to store sorghum

Conventional grain dryers or use of natural-air drying are options for drying grain. Grain at or below 14% percent moisture is considered dry.For long-term storage (more than 6 months), grain moisture content should be a maximum of 13.5%. Sorghum grain is stored traditionally in mud bins or straw bins or bamboo bins or in metal bins.

Bamboo bin to store sorghum

The storage structures in rural areas are not ideal from scientific-storage point of view, as substantial losses occur during storage of grain from insect pests, moulds, rodents, etc

 

 

Metal bin to store sorghum

Keeping the requirements of the farmers in view, the Indian Grain Storage Institute (IGSI), Hapur, Uttar Pradesh,with its branches at Ludhiana and Hyderabad, India have developed several metalbins of different capacities for scientific storage of grain in rural areas.

 

 

 

 

“Pusa” bin to store sorghum.