Traditional grain storage methods: An exploration of their contribution to the sustainability of Indian agriculture

Abstract

Despite having a wide variety of traditional grain storage structures that serve to store up to 70% of the total amount of grains produced, India loses more than 14 million tonnes of food grain in storage every year. In light of this, it is necessary to conduct a detailed mapping and analysis of these structures, focusing on their mode of operation, advantages, drawbacks, and ways to improve them. A narrative review approach was used to search, screen, and analyze the articles incorporated in this review. Several scientific databases, including Scopus and Google Scholar, were searched to find relevant articles. The study’s findings indicate that these storage structures are comparatively inexpensive, eco-friendly, and easily accessible to farmers. Moreover, they have been created using traditional knowledge, values, and locally sourced materials, thereby promoting agricultural sustainability. However, most of them have limited storage capacity and are vulnerable to significant grain losses because they cannot provide complete protection against moisture, insects, rodents, fungus, and other harmful microorganisms. It is possible, however, to improve the storage capacity and efficiency of these structures by modifying them slightly using modern materials and scientific knowledge.