Technical Appraisal of Grain Storage Systems in the Nigerian Sudan Savanna

Abstract

A technical survey of the village level grain storage structures existing in the Sudan Savanna climatic zone of Nigeria was undertaken. Preliminary investigation result shows that the common grain storage structures existing in this zone are the mud rhombus, thatched rhombus, underground pit, and earthen pot and warehouse storage. The grain usually stored in unthreshed forms includes millet, sorghum, maize and cowpea. Most of these structures are not moisture proof, rodent proof and are not airtight. Structural defects occur mainly in the roof, walls and columns of the storage structures. The common types of physical defects are cracks, leakage, termite infestation and structural failure of parts. The causes of defects among others include poor strength of material, inadequate columns, low elevation and pest infestation. The result however, shows that it might be more profitable for subsistent farmers to continue the storage of unthreshed cereal grain and possible unshelled pulsed in rhombus and underground pits since these have relatively low storage cost per kilogram of grain. However there is need for some technical improvement on the construction materials, nature of columns, elevation and the loading/unloading facilities. The farmers’ shows willingness in adopting new storage techniques provided such structures are cheap and affordable.