Airtight storage could’ve saved Thailand’s noble rice pledging effort

Oct. 16, 2013 - PRLog -- Thai farmers know that storage plays a key role in agricultural post-harvest practices. Yet, the right kind of advances in agricultural technology, especially in storage solutions, remains an enigma to many farmers in rural Thailand.

This lack of information can have serious consequences. In most rice producing Asian countries, threats of flood and exposure of post harvest rice to severe weather conditions can ultimately lead to food spoilage.

Latest data is showing that food losses as a result of massive rice production in Thailand has reached over hundreds of billions of dollars since the government began instituting a ‘rice pledge program’ in 2008.  Without the right storage, rice in warehouses was left to be flooded and rot away, while the rest have been stored so long that that rice have lost its desirable qualities.

The program, which aims to boost rural farmers’ incomes, had government procure rice at a much higher cost in hopes that the government will be able to sell them at a premium. As it turns out, stronger competition in the international market resulted in poor performance and incalculable losses. According to latest estimates, government lost Bt410 billion and could be facing more.

Such food spoilage could’ve been avoided with the right storage solution.

In the Philippines, a company called GrainPro, Inc. uses Ultra Hermetic™ technology to cut that country’s rice losses by 15 percent. Airtight storage containers that prevent the oxidation process could’ve helped Thailand store their rice safely from damaging floods and prolong its quality for up to three years.

This is why finding the right storage solution for precious agricultural food crops like corn, coffee and rice is important especially among developing nations in Southeast Asia that are prone to floods caused by monsoon and tropical hurricanes.

Those facing similar storage issues may rely on the knowledge and experience of global experts in agricultural storage solutions. They may be able to provide knowledgeable advice as well as technological alternatives designed to safely store various food crops while retaining its quality.

ABOUT GRAINPRO

GrainPro, Inc., a profitable, green, “not-only-for-profit’ company has, through its innovations in Ultra Hermetic technology created a revolution in safe storage and drying of grains and seeds primarily for use in the developing world, and now used in over 90 countries. GrainPro is determined to reduce world hunger, care for the environment and help farming communities worldwide.

Visit GrainPro.com (http://www.grainpro.com/) for more information and the solutions they can offer. You can also call them at +63 47 252 7884, or by email at customerservice@grainpro.com.

We encourage readers to use the hashtags #ReduceHunger or #GrainPro on Facebook (facebook.com/grainpro) and Twitter (twitter.com/gpphils) to support the fight against food spoilage.

SOURCE:

GrainPro USA

200 Baker Ave., Suite 309

Concord, MA 01742 USA

GrainPro Philippines, Inc.

Lot 46 Efficiency Avenue, Subic Bay Gateway Park I

Subic Bay Freeport Zone, 2222 Philippines

PR Office:

Victor Dela Casa

Officer, PR and Corporate Communications

63 47 252 7884 local 137 | Phone

63 917 565 2031 | Mobile

victor@grainpro.com | Email

RELATED LINKS:

http://www.grainpro.com

http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1048038

http://www.blackseagrain.net/novosti/ex-finance-minister-thailand-loses-bt410bn-from-state2019s-rice-subsidy

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/374394/flooded-farmers-say-government-rice-pledging-scheme-is-useless

(For wide distribution)