Farm & Agricultural Engineering Free NABARD Gr.

A e-book

Farm and Agricultural Engineering

ARD Notes for NABARD Gr. A Exam
Agricultural Engineering (also known as Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering) is the field of study
and application of engineering science and designs principles for agriculture purposes, combining the
various disciplines of mechanical, civil, electrical, food science, environmental, software, and chemical
engineering to improve the efficiency of farms and agribusiness enterprises as well as to ensure
sustainability of natural and renewable resources. (Wikipedia)

Water Harvesting Structure

A rainwater harvesting system comprises components of various stages - transporting rainwater
through pipes or drains, filtration, and storage in tanks for reuse or recharge, A roof made of
reinforced cement concrete (RCC), galvanised iron or corrugated sheets can also be used for water
harvesting.

• The main purpose of a water harvesting system is to use that water in agriculture,
for bathing or washing clothes so as to reduce the use of groundwater for same work,
Thus, reducing the wastage and shortage of groundwater, Source which fills the ponds
behind harvesting structures is rainwater.

• Any rainwater harvesting system has three components: Catchment, Conveyance,

and Storage. There are two classes of rainwater harvesting systems: Systems that
collect roof runoff for household use.

• Today, scarcity of good quality water has become a major cause of concern. However,
rainwater which is pure and of good quality is lost as runoff.

Benefits of Rainwater Harvesting

• Can supplement other sources of water supply such as groundwater or municipal

water connections.

• Ability to build or farm in areas with no other water supply.

• High-quality water - pure, free of chemicals.

• Lower water supply cost.

• Reduced flood flows and hence reduced topsoil loss.

Farm & Agricultural Engineering Free NABARD Gr. A e-book

Farm Ponds
• Farm ponds are small water bodies formed either by the construction of a small dam
or embankment across a waterway or by excavating or dugout.

• The water is usually harvested from a small catchment area and then used for
irrigation during prolonged periods.

• Farm ponds are small tanks or reservoir like constructions, are constructed for the
purpose of storing the surface runoff, generated from the catchment area.

• The farm ponds are the water harvesting structures, solve several purposes of farm
needs such as the supply of water for irrigation, cattle feed, fish production etc.

Agro-Processing
• Agro-processing could be defined as a set of techno-economic activities carried out
for conservation and handling of agricultural produce and to make it usable as food,
feed, fibre, fuel, or industrial raw material.

• Hence, the scope of the agro-processing industry encompasses all operations from
the stage of the harvest till the material reaches the end-users at the desired form,
packaging, quantity, quality, and price.

• Ancient Indian scriptures contain vivid accounts of the post-harvest and processing
practices for preservation and processing of agricultural produce for food and
medicinal uses.

• Inadequate attention to the agro-processing sector in the past put both the producer
and the consumer were at a disadvantage and it also hurt the economy of the Country.
Farm & Agricultural Engineering Free NABARD Gr. A e-book

• Agro-processing is now regarded as the sunrise sector of the Indian economy in view
of its large potential for growth and likely socio-economic impact specifically on
employment and income generation.

Controlled and modified storage, Perishable food storage, Godowns, Bins and
grain silos.
• Controlled atmosphere (CA) and modified atmosphere (MA) storage are technologies
for extending the shelf life of foods, especially fruits and vegetables; and for
eliminating pests in stored grains and oilseeds.

• The most important application of CA and MA is for the long-term storage of apples,
but the shelf life of certain other fruits (pears, sweet cherries) and vegetables
(cabbage) can also be extended by these methods.

• In addition, there is considerable evidence that MA can extend the shelf life of meat,
fish, poultry, fresh pasta, sandwiches, eggs, and bakery products, because grains and
oilseeds are more stable than high moisture foods (e.g., fruits, vegetables, meats), CA
and MA are used primarily for disinfestation rather than for increasing the shelf life.

Benefits and Limitations of CA and MA Storage

• The benefits can be divided into quality advantages and marketing and distribution
advantages.

• The improvements in quality arise from the general reduction in the rates of
metabolic processes, retardation of physiological ageing, enzymatic spoilage, and
reduction in microbial growth.

The Marketing and Distribution Advantages of CA or MA Technologies Include:

• Reduction in fresh food spoilage and quality loss through the distribution at the retail
level.

• The expanded radius of distribution systems and market area.

• Improved branding options and product differentiation.

• Potential for increased profitability in all fresh or chilled food operations.

Traditional Storage Structures

In these types of storage structures, the grain is generally stored in bulk. These types of
storage structures having generally capacities between 1 to 50 tonnes. The storage of grain is
Farm & Agricultural Engineering Free NABARD Gr. A e-book

generally done in one of the following storage structures in the different rural and urban
regions of India in bulk as well as in bag storage.

• Morai type storage structures

• Bukhari type storage structures

• Kothar type storage structure

• Mud Kothi type storage structure

• Muda type storage structure

• Kanaj type storage structure

• Kuthla type storage structure

• Metal/ Steel bin type storage structure

• Bag type storage structure

Improved Storage Structures

• Improved storage structures are the storage structures for the storage of food grains.

• In this type of storage structure, there are some improvements made in traditional
storage structures.

• This type of storage structure having a higher storage capacity and long-term storage
of food grains than traditional storage structures.
Farm & Agricultural Engineering Free NABARD Gr. A e-book

• An improved type of storage structure having capacities is generally 1.5 to 150

tonnes.

• The storage of grain is generally done in one of the following storage structures in the
different rural and urban regions of India in bulk, bag as well as bag and bulk storage.

Pusa Bin

• Pusa bin is like other traditional storage structures made of mud.

• To make the storage structure moisture-proof a plastic film is used in all the inner
sides of the bin.

Brick and Cement Bin

• These types of storage structures are very strong and the effect of seasons on these
is minimum.

Bunker Storage

• This type of storage structure is used for long term storage and a larger volume of
grains storage.

'CAP' Storage Structures

• The word 'CAP' is used for cover and plinth, plinth from the bottom and cover from
the top.

• This type of open storage is considered transit storage and serves the purpose of
storage of food grains in bags for short period.

Modern Storage Structures

• In India, a larger volume of food grains is to be stored in bulk in 'silo' and conventional
godowns (Shed) designed for bagged storage.

• The godowns side walls are of brick or stone masonry and sloped roofing in asbestos
or Corrugated Galvanized Iron (CGI) sheets over steel trusses.

• Silos are constructed from steel or reinforced concrete.

• There is a cluster of adjoining silos in any modern large/ capacity processing plant.

• The modern permanent storage system should be selected for the safekeeping of
stored grains and other products.
Farm & Agricultural Engineering Free NABARD Gr. A e-book

• The modern storage structures should be selected on the basis of first on quality and
then on cost considerations.

There are the following types of modern storage structures.

Silo type of storage structures

Silos/bins are classified into two groups depending upon the relative dimensions of the
container. These are classified as:

(1) Deep bins and

(2) Shallow bins.

Shallow Bins

• Squat silos are coming under shallow bins.

• A squat silo has a wall height to diameter ratio of 0.5 or even less.

• The squat silo can compete with sheds for low-cost quality storage.

Deep Bins

• Vertical Silos are coming under this type of storage structure.

Farm & Agricultural Engineering Free NABARD Gr. A e-book

• There are two types of vertical silos

a) Flat bottom vertical silo and

b) Hopper bottom vertical silo.

Shed

• Generally, horizontal sheds have been used to provide low-cost, large volume
storage.

• For storing grains and other products a very large volume of sheds has also been
constructed by Central Warehousing Corporation.

Farm Silos

• Farm silos is a farm structure used to store and protect animal fodder so that it is
preserved in an ideal condition for farm animals.

• Animal fodder is cut and packed in the airtight silo to allow a partial fermentation to
occur.

• The storage fodder is known as silage. There are two types of farm silos Tower silos
and Horizontal silos.

Tower Silos

• Cylindrical Shape and made of masonry, wood, or metal.

• The cost of construction is comparatively much higher than that of horizontal type.

• Loading of animal fodder is difficult.

• A mechanical loader or a large capacity blower is essential.

• This type of storage structure is not recommended under Indian conditions.

Horizontal Silos
• In horizontal silos pit type, bunker type and trench or stake type of storage structures
used for storage of animal fodder.

• There is surface as well as below ground (underground) types of storage structures

used on most dairy farms as temporary and permanent storage structures for silage.

• The spoilage of silage and dry matter losses of these silos ranges between 20 to 30
percent.
Farm & Agricultural Engineering Free NABARD Gr. A e-book

Pit Silos

• A permanent pit silo is a circular deep well that is lined all around the side and sealed
from the bottom, so that water may not rise into it.

• Made in areas where the soil is deep, and the water table is very low.

• Made of bricks, stones, or concrete, and either cement or lime can be used as a
binding material.

• A 22.5 cm thick wall will be used satisfactory up to 15-meter depth.

• The entire surface which is coming in contact with the silage should be plastered to
make it smooth, airtight, and watertight.

• A simple roof is made over the silo to protect the silage from sun and rain.

• A corrugated metal sheet dome or a half-pitch roof with ample overhang on all the
sides are most economical and provide more space for filling.

• Stairs may be built along with walls for removing silage from the silo.

The diameter of a silo is usually limited to 6 m and its depth is kept 2 to 3 times that of
diameter.

When the silo is opened for removing the silage, nobody should enter till the gases are
removed.

Unlined trench silo can be made easily without involving any investment in building materials such as
brick, cement, and sand

• Unlined silos give more spoilage and are likely to have caved sidewalls due to
excessive rain and tend to become muddy at the bottom. So, lined trench silos are
therefore become popular.

• The walls of the trench silos can be lined with brick, concrete, or cement plaster with
reinforcing wire mesh.

• If possible, the silo should be roofed.

• Drains should be made around the trench to intercept surface water.

• To facilitate drainage, it is desirable to locate the trench silo on slopping ground.

• Capacity depends on the size of the herd and the number of days the silage is fed in a
year.

• It is always economical to construct only one trench silo, even if it is quite larger.

• Sidewalls are given generally a 33 per cent slope.

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