Storing grain in sacks is useful if there are large quantities to store. If theft from outside granaries is common, sacks can be stored in a room with a lock. Sacks are best stored in rooms with concrete floors and walls.
- Sacks should never be stored directly on the floor. Make strong frames from poles or wood. Stack the sacks on these frames allowing an open space in the middle for air. Don’t let the sacks touch the walls.
- If the sacks are turned twice each day for the first two weeks, most pests will be destroyed since pests need to fix themselves into one position to start eating into a grain. Regular turning prevents this and results in pests dying of hunger.
Discussion
- Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using sacks to store grain. What kind of pests might prove a problem? Would rat and mouse traps or a cat be a wise investment?
- If possible, visit a large grain store. Discuss the practices that are observed. Are there useful ideas that could be implemented?
- Can you put any of these ideas into practice?
- For example try turning one sack twice a day for two weeks and compare the resulting damage from pests in this sack with one which was not turned. Was there a difference in the amount of pest damage?
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