India is testing new ways to protect stored wheat and rice from insects and other storage pests. ICAR and the Food Corporation of India signed an agreement on 30 September 2026 for research into alternative fumigation methods that could reduce dependence on conventional chemical treatments.
The two-year first phase will be carried out by ICAR-Central Institute of Post-Harvest Engineering and Technology in Ludhiana. The research is supported by the Department of Food and Public Distribution and will test methods suitable for different storage conditions used for wheat and rice.
The project matters to farmers because grain quality does not depend only on production in the field. Poor storage can allow insects, moisture and other problems to damage harvested produce. Better storage practices can help preserve grain quality between procurement, warehousing and final distribution.
Why Is India Testing New Fumigation Methods?
For decades, aluminium phosphide and malathion have been widely used to control storage pests in public grain reserves. The government says repeated use has contributed to high pest resistance in several important Indian states, making storage-pest control more difficult.
The ICAR-FCI project will examine nitrogen gas, carbon dioxide and a combined carbon dioxide-phosphine treatment. Researchers will study how these methods perform against storage pests while assessing safety, effectiveness and their suitability for commercial grain-storage operations.
One trial will test nitrogen gas above 99% concentration for wheat stored in metal silos. Another will examine combined carbon dioxide and phosphine fumigation for wheat and rice stored in bags at FCI and Central Warehousing Corporation warehouses.
A third trial will examine carbon dioxide fumigation for wheat and rice kept in bags inside hermetic covers. These trials will help researchers compare different approaches according to storage conditions rather than assuming one treatment works equally well everywhere.
What Could This Mean For Farmers?
Farmers generally sell grain soon after harvest, but better storage systems can still matter when produce is stored temporarily before sale. Scientific storage can protect quality and reduce avoidable losses, particularly when grain remains in warehouses, procurement centres or other storage facilities.
The government has also been expanding modern grain-storage systems. In June 2026, the Department of Food and Public Distribution launched a smart warehousing system using artificial intelligence and Internet-connected monitoring across public-sector warehouses.
The system includes environmental monitoring, AI-assisted bag counting and detection systems for fire, smoke and rodents. Such technologies can help warehouse managers identify problems earlier, while improved pest-control methods could address another major challenge after grain enters storage.
For farmers, this combination can become important after harvest. Better handling, drying, storage conditions and pest monitoring can help maintain grain quality before procurement or marketing. Farmers should still follow local storage recommendations because fumigation chemicals and gases require trained personnel and controlled conditions.
Will The New Methods Be Used Immediately?
No. The current agreement is a research project, not an immediate replacement of existing fumigation practices. The first phase will run for two years. Researchers will assess the three methods before developing evidence-based recommendations for wider commercial use.
After the first phase, a second stage is planned as a one-year multi-location trial across different agro-climatic regions. The objective will be to develop region-specific standard operating procedures before the technologies are considered for wider adoption.
This testing is important because storage conditions differ between locations, grain types and warehouse systems. Temperature, humidity, storage structure and pest populations can influence treatment results. A method that works in one storage environment may require different operating conditions elsewhere.
Why Does Safe Storage Matter For Farmers?
Storage protection is closely connected with food quality and farmer returns. Grain that loses quality because of insects or poor storage may face rejection, lower value or higher handling costs. Better post-harvest management can therefore protect value after farmers have completed the production stage.
The new ICAR-FCI project is focused on public grain storage, but its findings could eventually support wider improvements in scientific grain management. For farmers, the main takeaway is simple: post-harvest management is as important as production when protecting the value of harvested crops.
Also Read: Punarnava Jal – The world’s first organic fertilizer! Know how it is beneficial for farmers?
Contact us – If farmers want to share any valuable information or experiences related to farming, they can connect with us via phone or whatsapp at 9599273766 or you can write to us at “kisanofindia.mail@gmail.com”. Through Kisan of India, we will convey your message to the people, because we believe that if the farmers are advanced then the country is happy.
You can connect with Kisan of India on Facebook, Twitter, and Whatsapp and Subscribe to our YouTube channel.
