CROP PROCESSING AND STORAGE
Processing: Can be defined as the treatment given to crop immediately after harvesting, in other word can be defined as the processing in the crucial step involve in converting row harvested crop into valuable, marketable or consumable.
CLASSIFICATION OF PROCESSING TECHNIQUES
There are two class or types of processing techniques, they are primary processing and secondary processing.
Primary processing
Primary processing include the following 1. methods
2. Drying
3. Cleaning
4. Threshing
5. Winnowing
6. Sorting
7. Seperation
8. Grading
9. Packaging
10. Blanching
11. Decortation
12. Desiccation
METHODS OF DRY MOISTURE CONTENT
Biting, holding, canning, salting etc.
Canning method: To put in the tin to shake it for it sound, to identified the dried ones.
Drying method: Is the application of solar radiation to reduce the moisture content.
Threshing method: Mean separation of grains from the panicle by using manual or machine thresher.
Winnowing method: Means separation the grain from the chaft or the hust.
Sorting method: To remove the unviable ones from the grains.
Grading method: Means to select the bigger ones among the smaller ones.
Packaging method: Is the agricultural commodity in different containers.
Par-boiling method: The partial boiling of grain before mill.
Blanching method: Is a partial boiling of vegetables.
Decortation method: Is the removal of shelled from the products.
Desiccation method: Is the application of desiccation to reduce moisture content.
DEFINITION OF STORAGE
Storage: Is any places or containers where goods or agricultural products are kept and protected from any out comes pest and diseases and it should be ventilated.
AGENT OF DETORIORATION
The agents of deterioration can be as follows:
Physical factor: Which includes, Temperature, Structure of the crop moisture contents.
Biological factor: Which includes Insects, Fungi, Rodents, Virus and Bacterial, in the store eg Bruechied, Weevils etc.
Control measures
Rambo, Push out, Phosphiel, Phenolic compound for the root, tubers Ehylene.
Chemical factor:
The crop have chemical that are found inside eg Yam, Carbohydrates etc.
Technical factor:-Refers to as poor handling.
GENERAL METHOD OF GOOD STORAGE TECHNIQUES
Not site your store near river bank
Always keep a high quality crops and free from damage.
Dry your crop at the safe moisture content e.g
-Millet 16% moisture content
-Ground nut 7/9% moisture content
-Cowpea 15% moisture content
-Lima beans 14-15% moisture content.
