ICAR, FCI sign MoU to develop sustainable foodgrain storage pest control methods

New Delhi: The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and the Food Corporation of India (FCI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop alternative fumigation technologies for the safe and sustainable management of storage pests in wheat and rice.

The MoU was signed on September 30, with the research supported by the Department of Food & Public Distribution (DFPD), Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution.

Follow The PSUWatch Channel on WhatsApp

The two-year Phase-I project will be implemented by ICAR-Central Institute of Post-Harvest Engineering and Technology (CIPHET), Ludhiana.

India's grain storage system has traditionally relied on aluminium phosphide (ALP) and malathion for post-harvest pest control. However, repeated use of these chemicals has contributed to increasing pest resistance, with resistance frequencies reported at 72-100 percent in some key states, according to the government.

The project will evaluate alternative fumigation methods using nitrogen gas, carbon dioxide (CO₂), and a combination of CO₂ and phosphine, with a focus on reducing occupational exposure, environmental risks and fumigant residues while improving pest management.

Follow PSU Watch on LinkedIN

Three major trials will be undertaken during Phase-I. These include nitrogen gas fumigation for wheat stored in metal silos; combined CO₂ and phosphine fumigation for wheat and rice stored in bags at FCI and Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC) warehouses; and CO₂ fumigation for wheat and rice stored in bags under hermetic covers.

Following the Phase-I pilot, a one-year Phase-II multi-location trial is planned across different agro-climatic zones. The second phase will focus on developing region-specific Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for commercial application of the alternative fumigation technologies.

The initiative is aimed at developing scientifically validated and scalable alternatives to conventional chemical fumigation and addressing challenges related to pest resistance, worker safety, environmental impact and chemical residues in stored foodgrains.

The MoU was signed by Dr Nachiket Kotwaliwale, Director, ICAR-CIPHET, and Dr A.K. Sinha, Executive Director (Quality Control), FCI.

The signing ceremony was attended by Dr M.L. Jat, Secretary, Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) and Director General, ICAR, along with senior officials from ICAR, FCI and DFPD.

(PSU Watch is India's Business News centre that places the spotlight on PSUs, Bureaucracy, Defence and Public Policy. 👉 Click to join our channel now: PSUWatch WhatsApp Channel. Prefer LinkedIn? Follow PSU Watch on LinkedIN. Click to stay connected on Twitter here and stay updated)