The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and the Food Corporation of India (FCI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on 30 September 2026 to develop safer methods for controlling storage pests in India’s grain reserves. The research programme, backed by the Department of Food & Public Distribution under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, will test alternative fumigation technologies over two years as a direct response to growing pest resistance and health risks from current chemical treatments.
India has depended on aluminium phosphide and malathion to protect stored wheat and rice for decades. Both chemicals are now losing effectiveness as pests have built up resistance, and workers face respiratory dangers from prolonged exposure.
Key facts
- MoU signed on 30 September 2026
- Phase-I duration: two years
- Implementing agency: ICAR-Central Institute of Post-Harvest Engineering and Technology (CIPHET), Ludhiana
- Pest resistance to current chemicals has reached 72-100% in major Indian states
- Three fumigation methods to be tested: nitrogen gas, carbon dioxide, and a combination of CO2 and phosphine
- Phase-II planned as a one-year multi-location trial across different agro-climatic zones
- MoU signed by Dr. Nachiket Kotwaliwale (ICAR-CIPHET Director) and Dr. A.K. Sinha (FCI Executive Director, Quality Control)
The problem with current storage methods
India stores massive quantities of grain in metal silos, warehouses and bags to maintain food security. However, the chemicals used to kill storage pests have become increasingly unreliable. Pests such as insects and weevils have developed strong resistance to aluminium phosphide and malathion through repeated exposure. This forces warehouse managers to fumigate more often and use higher doses, raising both costs and health risks. Workers handling these chemicals face serious respiratory problems, and chemical residues can contaminate food and harm the environment over time.
The alternative technologies being tested
The research will evaluate three different fumigation approaches, each suited to different storage conditions:
Nitrogen gas fumigation will be tested on wheat stored in metal silos. This method works by replacing oxygen, which pests need to survive.
Combined CO2 and phosphine gas fumigation will be trialled on wheat and rice stored in bags within FCI and Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC) facilities. This combination is designed to be more effective than either gas alone.
Carbon dioxide fumigation will be tested on wheat and rice in bags that are sealed inside hermetic (airtight) covers. This approach traps the gas near the grain for better pest control.
How the research will be structured
The two-year Phase-I project will conduct these three major trials in real warehouse and storage conditions. If successful, Phase-II will expand into a one-year pilot across multiple locations in different agro-climatic zones of India. The goal is to develop region-specific Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that can be adapted to local conditions while maintaining scientific rigour.
Once validated, these procedures will become templates for nationwide adoption, ensuring that storage pest management becomes both effective and safe across India’s grain storage network.
What this means for you
If you work in agriculture, food storage or grain handling, this research could significantly improve your workplace safety by reducing exposure to toxic chemicals. For consumers, safer storage methods mean reduced chemical residues in the food supply. For farmers and grain traders, more effective pest control without chemical resistance means lower long-term storage costs and less need for repeated fumigation cycles. For policymakers and food security planners, this initiative offers a scientifically proven, sustainable approach to protecting India’s grain reserves for years to come.
What happens next
The Phase-I trials will run for two years under the leadership of ICAR-CIPHET in Ludhiana. Once results are documented and analysed, Phase-II will begin with multi-location trials to establish region-specific protocols. The findings will be used to standardize commercial fumigation practices across India’s food storage infrastructure.