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Traditional Rice Storage Facilities and Options for Safe Storage: a Study in Some Selected Flood-prone Areas Under Bhola District

M. K. Hasan
Engineering Section, Sylhet Agricultural University, Sylhet-3100

M. Z. Abedin
Department of Farm Structure and Environmental Engineering, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202

T. Islam
Department of Agricultural Construction and Environmental Engineering, Sylhet Agricultural University, Sylhet-3100, Bangladesh

M. Z. Rahman
Department of Farm Structure and Environmental Engineering, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The study aimed at identifying the existing rice storage facilities, problems and prospects at farmer’s level in some selected five unions in two flood-prone upazillas under Bhola district of Bangladesh. The farmer’s suggested policy options for safe storage of rice are also discussed. The selection of Upazilas and villages were done purposively whereas the sample households were selected randomly using stratified random sampling technique with arbitrary allocation. The farmers were classified as small, medium and large based their land ownership. Data on the average rice production, consumption, storage volume and costs of storage and losses of rice in different storage structures/containers from selected 50 farmers of study areas were collected through pre-tested questionnaire. The farmers generally used traditional storage structures such as Dole, Berh, Motka, Jala, Gola, Plastic drum and Gunny/Plastic bags for storing rice. Plastic drum, Gunny and Plastic bags and Motka/Jala were found more economical for the farmers considering the capital cost, expected life and storage loss. Over 90% of the farmers’ felt the need for training on safe storage and over 80% of the small and medium farmers were interested in getting government help through loans, grants, etc. About 60% of the farmers expressed their interest on cooperative storage system to store and protect their food grains during the time of floods. Farmers opined to construct storage structures at an easily accessible place within their village or union under common or cooperative storage systems. The proposed storage system, on implementation, could be managed or overseen by a committee elected/selected by the cooperative society members.

Keywords: Rice, storage facilities, Storage loss, Flood-prone area

Location: Bhola

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Postharvest and Agro-processing

Commodity: Rice

Objectives:

To reduce storage loss cooperative storage structures play important role in providing facilities for the farmers to store and protect their rice grains at the time of natural disaster.

Methodology:

The study was conducted in Bhola sadar and Burhanuddin upazillas under Bhola district. The selected five unions were Char Shibpur, Uttar Dighaldi, Daksin Dighaldi, Kutba and Bara Manika under the study areas. The selection of Upazilas and villages were done purposively whereas the sample households were selected randomly using stratified random sampling technique with arbitrary allocation. The study areas were almost easily accessible for collecting data. Some community and private storage structures for rice was purposively visited. The farm households under rice cultivation were classified into three groups based on their land ownership and these were the small farmer having land up to 2.49 acres (0.4-0.99 hectares), medium farmer having land 2.50-7.49 acres (1.0-3.0 hectares) and large farmer having land with more than 7.50 acres (>3.0 hectares). Primary data were collected through farm survey with the help of pre-tested questionnaire. Data on average production, consumption, storage volume and storage costs and losses of rice in different storage structures from selected 50 farmers were collected through interviewing farmers involved in grain storage keeping in view the objectives of the study especially covering flood-prone areas. For collecting data personal visits were made to the house of sampled farmers. At the beginning of the interview, the aims and objectives of the study were explained to each farmer. Then the questions were asked in a very simple manner with explanation of questions where necessary and the replies were recorded in the questionnaire. The collected primary data was edited both at the field and at the laboratory. Data were also collected on policy options for safe storage through FGD. The secondary data was collected from publications of different research institutes including BRRI and Rice Foundation, BBS and websites. In achieving the objectives of the study the collected data were classified, tabulated and analyzed. Simple statistical techniques were followed in analyzing the data.

Source of Information: J. Bangladesh Agril. Univ. 13(1): 125–130, 2015 ISSN 1810-3030

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The farmers stored their rice in indoor type traditional storage structures like Dole, Berh, Plastic drum. Motka, Jala, Gunny, Plastic bag and Gola. Tendency of using Motka, Berh and Gola are higher which are not so durable and storage losses due to various factors are high. During flood the houses and storage structures and stored grains of farm are damaged partially or fully. For these reason, there is no alternative other than cooperative storage structure constructed at safe and elevated place. Farmers of the study areas have short of knowledge on storage and they need government help like loan, training etc. The farmers are languishing with the impending danger of flood almost in every year, they suggested for safely constructed cooperative storage structure at easily accessible and safe place for ensuring security and storage quality. Some of the policies suggested for safe storage are as follows: (a) Plinth level of the house of farmers in flood-prone areas could be raised above flood level to protect the traditional/conventional storage system at farmers’ level. Government storage system should be extended in the union and Hat/Bazar level. (b) Government should provide assistance (loan, training, etc) for the development of safe storage system at farmers’ level. Every Union Parishad of Bangladesh has one small VGD godown, The CSD or LSD godowns could be increased that would help storage of relief food grains at the time of disaster. In the flood/cyclone prone areas the number of flood-cum-cyclone shelter including cooperative storage system for food grain should be increased. (c) Farmers’ awareness and training program on safe storage of rice should be implemented. The GOs and NGOs could be initiated to take the lead involving the private sector development partners.

Knowledge Management: Journal