Data on agricultural storage capacity is sketchy, but total wheat storage capacity in the public sector is estimated at about 5.2 million tons, of which 1.3 million tons is with Passco, and the rest with provincial agriculture departments.

The Punjab Food Department has the maximum capacity of storage of about 2.18 million tons while Passco can store up to 0.8 million tons. The available storage capacity of the food department this year is less than two million tons due to carry over stock, while Passco has no capacity for storing wheat this year as its warehouses are stuffed with about 700,000 tons of rice. The Sindh Food Department also has negligible storage capacity.

Public sector storage capacity is often in jute bags in shed style godowns, the specifications of which differ by region, in accordance with weather conditions, capacity required etc. For example, storage depots in Karachi, one of the bigger grain markets, measure on average 51.21m x 12.19m with a storage capacity for about 1,500 tons of wheat.

These godowns do not provide significant protection against insect infestation, and cannot be made gas impermeable to facilitate fumigation. The most common form of storage for wheat is actually open air storage, with wheat being stored in bags on raised platforms. Although such storage is classified as 'temporary' in Passco records, wheat is stored in this fashion sometime for quite a long time.

In cereal crops, harvest and post-harvest losses are in the range of 15-18 per cent. Post-harvest losses are from birds, rats, insect pests and diseases, rain, delay in threshing and storage etc. The grain losses depend upon crop variety, grain moisture content, humid climate and high temperature.

Such grain losses may be reduced by threshing, cleanings, drying and storing of grain immediately after harvest of the crop.

The moisture content should be brought at 10-12 per cent before storage. Storage losses for wheat in particular are estimated to be significant.

Wheat storage losses can vary considerably depending on the type of storage and the losses can be up to seven per cent for jute bags. By saving these losses more than 10 million people can be fed. However, admixture or any adulteration in the grain including trash, straw, dust, soil particles and gravels, may increase chances of pest attack. The storage losses due to insects, rats and moulds go up to 10-18 per cent.

Steel storage silos have been used over years throughout the world which played a significant role in improving productivity and by reducing post harvest losses. By constructing well-designed and managed storage facilities at strategic points grain losses may be eliminated.

Before storage of grain in silos, it is cleaned which reduces chances of deterioration in quality. Normally, there is around 2-3 per cent grain dust, weeds and other contaminants in the grain, the elimination of these materials before storage enhances the storage capacity of silos.

Insects and fungi in grain during storage greatly affect its quality and subsequent value. Therefore, stored grain must be kept free from these pests to insure acceptance by both domestic and foreign grain buyers. In silos grain remains safe under harsh weather conditions like rains, since steel silos are air tight and water tight structures.

Fumigation of grain if required is easy and economical in steel silos. The aeration system in steel silos facilitates distribution of fumigants. The aeration system will also cool the grain and thus limit insect development. Since most of our wheat is harvested dry or near dry, aeration is a key to holding it in good condition.

If the silo is filled and air tightened there is no danger of weevil infestation because the stored grain produces some carbon dioxide which disturbs the oxygen balance and the weevils cannot survive. In case of local conditions, the weevils are transferred to warehouse from markets which propagate.

The land requirement is considerably less in case of steel silo- based grain storage facility as compared with traditional storage systems. The operation will be better on safety, security, housekeeping and manpower requirement point of view.

Since construction of steel silos storage facilities need heavy investment, therefore, private sector should be encouraged to invest in this sector. Passco and provincial food departments may enter into long-term agreements with private sector for renting these facilities on per ton basis. To attract investors, tax rebate incentive may be given for setting up new grain stations.

Storage policy must be a part of food security policy. The federal government should review food security policies in conjunction with provincial governments to assess how private sector can inter into grain storage for its facilitation.

The government's role in procurement, storage, distribution, export and import, and price maintenance has to be clearly stated and firmly followed.

Wheat storage facilities need to be run on corporative and business-oriented basis, with strong performance and incentives based on outcome. Wheat handling at post-production stage is a technical job.

Farmer and procurement agencies are required to be trained about modern storage technology. Once the modern wheat storage facilities are attained it will maintain the quality of grain, check the losses and enable us to enter into export market if we have surplus grain as we have this year.