Estimation of Seed, Feed and Wastage Ratios for Major Foodgrains in Himachal Pradesh, 2006 by Ranveer Singh, S.P. Saraswat, Meenakshi and Pratap Singh.
Abstract: Nearly 85 percent of gross cropped area (GCA) is under foodgrains in Himachal Pradesh. Among foodgrains wheat, maize and blackgram are the major crops occupying 72 percent of GCA in the state. After meeting the needs of seed, feed, kind wage payment the rest is available for farm family consumption. Wastages during harvest and post harvest stages are also affect the availability of foodgrains for family consumption. The present paper attempts to provide the estimates of the wastage and the availability of the major foodgrains (wheat, maize blackgram) for human consumption in Himachal Pradesh. The analysis reveals that the wastages range between 7.7 to 11.2 percent of the total production in the selected crops. Losses were higher in wheat, followed by maize and blackgram. The losses were found to be more during storage of grains. Wastage at the time of harvesting, threshing shattered and left in straw was also of the significant magnitude.The reduction in losses during harvest and post-harvest stages is important to increase the food grain availability for human consumption
