Performance evaluation of existing paddy storage structures of Kashmir region

The investigations carried out on existing storage structures in relation to storage loss of paddy in five different districts of Kashmir Region revealed that loss mainly depends upon the storage structures used by the farmers. Tvzxhe wooden storage structure was the ideal one for rural environment. The highest mean germination percentage was observed in the samples collected from wooden storage structure (92.8%), while as the lowest germination percentage was shown by the samples drawn from plastic containers (87.30%). The moisture content was again recorded highest in the samples drawn from plastic containers (21.92%) followed by Gunny bags (19.50%) and mud bins (18.50%). However, least moisture content was recorded in samples collected from metallic granary (14.30%) and wooden storage structures (14.22%). Metallic granaries and Mud bins in performance for weight loss percentage were found at par with one another (at 5% CD level), while as lowest mean weight loss percentage was noted in the samples collected from wooden storage structures (3.8%) and highest in the samples collected from plastic containers (11.1%).