Hello, young learners! Welcome back to Primary 5 Agricultural Science Lesson. In our previous lesson, we learned Post-harvest Activities – Processing and preservation. Today, we’re going to learn about the storage and marketing of crops.
Objectives
By the end of this lesson, you should be able to:
- Explain what crop storage is and why it’s important.
- Identify different methods of storing crops, including perishables.
- Describe how crops are marketed after they are harvested.
Storage and Marketing of Crops
What is Storage of crops?
Storage of crops is the process of keeping harvested crops in a safe place to prevent them from spoiling or getting damaged before they are sold or consumed. There are different methods depending on the type of crop:
Some of the methods of storing crops include:
- Silos: Tall, cylindrical structures used to store grains like maize, rice, and wheat. Silos protect grains from moisture and pests.
- Barns: Structures for storing crops like yams, potatoes, and cassava. Barns keep these crops cool and dry.
- Cribs: Containers with slats for ventilation, often used to store maize. Cribs allow air to circulate, drying the maize and preventing mold.
- Bags: Used for storing beans, groundnuts, and grains. These bags are kept in cool, dry places.
- Bottling: For perishable crops like fruits and vegetables, bottling is a method where the produce is cleaned, sometimes cooked, and sealed in glass bottles. This prevents spoilage and extends shelf life.
- Freezing: Another method for perishables like vegetables, fruits, and some dairy products. The crops are cleaned, sometimes blanched (partially cooked), and then frozen to preserve them for longer periods.
- Cold Storage: Perishables such as tomatoes, fruits, and dairy products are often stored in cold rooms or refrigerators. Cold storage slows down the ripening process and keeps these items fresh for a longer time.
What is Marketing?
Marketing involves all the steps taken to sell the crops after they are harvested. The main steps in marketing crops are:
- Packaging: Crops are cleaned and packed into boxes, bags, or containers, ready for sale. For delicate crops like fruits, special packaging materials are used to prevent damage.
- Advertising: Farmers use signs, posters, or media announcements to let people know about their crops.
- Transportation: Crops are transported from the farm to markets or stores where they are sold.
- Selling: the crops are sold to people in markets, shops, or directly to consumers.
Evaluation Questions
Now that you have learned about how crops are stored and marketed, let’s see if you can answer these questions:
- What is the purpose of storing crops?
- How are perishable crops like fruits stored?
- What is bottling, and which crops are stored this way?
- How do farmers advertise their crops?
- What are some of the different ways that crops are transported to market?
- How do farmers decide on the best price to sell their crops?
Conclusions
Great job today! Remember, storing crops correctly helps keep them fresh until they can be sold. Marketing helps farmers get their crops to consumers. Don’t forget to check the comments section if you have any questions, and use the navigation to move to the next lesson. See you in the next lesson!
