Packaging and storage of Rice

1. Packaging and storage of Rice Next

2. Packaging and storage of rice Introduction Rice is normally packed in gunny bags or plastic bags for domestic consumption. Rice can also be stored in sealed airtight, plastic containers using a high quality polyethylene film. For this kind of storage, the required moisture content of paddy in equilibrium with 30-40% RH. Next End

3. Packaging and storage of rice Introduction Commercially available packaging materials for premium rice 20 kg, 10 kg, 5 kg & 2kg white canvas bags ; 20kg, 10 kg & 5kg laminated paper bags with zipper; 5 kg, 2 kg, 1kg & 500gms cartons and plastic pouches ; 5 kg & 2kg PET jars. Next End Previous

4. Packaging and storage of rice Storage Structures used for bag storage should : Be protected against sun, rain and water; Not allow the entry of rodents and birds; Have smooth walls and floors for easy cleaning; Be built 0.9-1.0 m above ground level to permit easy unloading/loading, as well as to prevent rats; Have wide doors for easy access; Contd… Next End Previous

5. Packaging and storage of rice Storage Structures used for bag storage should : Contd… Have no inside pillars that restrict stacking arrangements, reduce capacity or make pest control difficult. Be located on good, well drained, safe site with good road access; Permit good ventilation for working conditions. Have good design of openings so that the godown can be sealed for effective fumigation prior to storage. Next End Previous

6. Packaging and storage of rice Precautions and Protective Measures Contd… Bagged paddy/rice should always be stacked on wooden dunnage to prevent moisture absorption and to permit good sanitation practices. Paddy bags are stacked 16-bag high. About 0.8 m2 of floor space is needed for each ton of storage capacity. If a metal roof is used, it should be insulated to minimize temperature build-up. Next End Previous

7. Packaging and storage of rice Precautions and Protective Measures Timely monitoring should be carried out in order to detect insect infestation in storage for which visual methods, light traps, sticky traps pheromone traps can be used. Any cracks/crevices developing on the floor/walls must be repaired as and when noticed. Contd… Next End Previous

8. Packaging and storage of rice Precautions and Protective Measures Contd… Before arrival of the new harvest, all processing and storage structures be cleaned thoroughly followed by disinfestations with residual sprays of insecticide at least 4 weeks in advance. Insecticides to be used are Malathion 50EC, Fenitrothion 50EC and Methyl primiphos 50 EC. Next End Previous

9. Packaging and storage of rice Precautions and Protective Measures Treatment of old (previously used) gunny bags is to be done with Malathion @ 10 ml/liter of water per 20 m2 bag surface or in hot water (above 500 Deg C for 15 minutes) followed by drying. Alleyways, stack, doorways etc. should also be treated with any one of the earlier mentioned insecticides: @ 2 Kg and 1.25 Kg respectively per 100 m2 for the dust formulations . @ 50 ml in 5 liter of water per 100 m2 area for the liquid formulations. Next End Previous

10. Packaging and storage of rice Let us sum up Storage environment plays an important role in safe storage of paddy. The most common practice of gunny bag storing of paddy in storage godowns demands certain basic rules to be followed. To retain quality, packaging of rice is done in different ways as per market needs, market distance, market season and geographical location. End Previous