Comparison of hermetic storage of wheat with traditional storage methods in India

India is among the countries with highest postharvest losses in the world. Storage losses are a major concern with farmers, governmental agencies and private sector players experiencing similarly high losses. We simulated real-time Indian conditions to compare hermetic storage technique with two traditional techniques namely metallic bins and gunny bags for wheat stored for a year. Four hermetic bags, two metallic bins and two gunny bag piles with each containing one tonne of wheat were fitted with temperature, relative humidity and C0₂ sensors, logging data at regular intervals. Representative samples were collected every month and various qualitative tests were performed. After nine months, wheat stored in hermetic bags was free of any infestation and was outperforming others in most of the qualitative aspects most critical being germination test, and bored grain percentage test. Two of the hermetic bags successfully obliterated 80 specimens of adult Rhyzopertha dominica deliberately introduced in them. Although hermetic bags have failed to maintain gas tightness as reported in other studies and moisture content variation observed is also greater than ±1%, still the results are better in comparison than other treatments. Gunny bag piles have suffered a major proliferation of infestation and metallic bins are also infested. Hermetic bags can be an attractive environment friendly solution for reducing storage losses in India.