Research reveals that in the past farmers had their own way of preserving grain. Grains/cereal/pulses were stored either to be used at
a future date,
or for the purpose of sowing. The following ways were used:
• A dark corner of a house was chosen and smeared with cow dung. After some time hay or bamboo sticks were spread
in
this
corner. Baskets woven with sticks, covered with a bamboo mat and smeared with cow dung were made.
The base of the baskets were lined
with ash, castor seed or neem
leaves. Then the seeds of jowar/pulses were mixed with neem leaves and stored in this basket. This was finally covered with another neat bamboo mat that would
vacuum
seal the basket. The grains stored in this way would thus remain fresh for a long time.
• In a pot smeared with lime, some ash was added at the bottom followed by a mixture of castor seed and neem leaves. The seeds to be stored were added in a layer on top of this mixture. The top portion of the pot was covered with hay or grass. The grains stored in this way were stored for about 1 ½ years without
being prone to pest attack.
• Another method was by preserving them underground. The grains of jowar, navani (a variety of jowar) were placed on a bed of leaves knitted into a sheet, fully enclosed by stalks of jowar and navani. The top portion was covered by another sheet of leaves and a small stone boulder
placed atop.
It has been noticed that this is
a very efficient method of storing seeds.
