Hermetic storage: a hot topic in Indonesia

Decision-makers and researchers from national and provincial research institutions from West Java, South Sumatra, North Sumatra, and South Sulawesi, extension workers from West Java, and distributors of hermetic storage systems from the Philippines and Indonesia gathered on 24 March at ICFORD, Bogor, to discuss issues and strategies to disseminate hermetic storage systems to farmers in Indonesia.

Five years of research at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and three years in Indonesia have shown that hermetic or airtight storage can help double the life of rice seeds, maintain good milling quality, and protect grains from pests such as insects and rodents, without using pesticides. In a hermetic storage system such as the IRRI Super Bag, the atmosphere inside the storage container is modified through biological activities in the grain and respiration of insects, resulting in a drop in oxygen and increase in carbon dioxide levels. In this modified atmosphere, insects cannot survive.

The farmer-friendly Super Bag is a perfect sample of hermetic or airtight storage. It costs only US$1.10, and fits as a liner inside existing storage bags. (IRRI photo)

The meeting was conducted as part of the Irrigated Rice Research Consortium (IRRC) activities in Indonesia. It was organized by the IRRI Indonesia office and hosted by the Indonesian Center for Food Crop Research and Development (ICFORD). During the meeting, researchers from the Indonesian Center
for Postharvest Research and Development (ICAPRD), the Indonesian Center for Rice Research (ICRR), and the provincial technology assessment centers (BPTPs) in Medan, Makassar, and Palembang gave updates on research findings in Indonesia.

IRRI provided a summary of findings in other countries. Representatives from Grainpro Inc., the international supplier of commercial hermetic storage systems and the IRRI Super Bag, and from the Agribusiness Club Jakarta, distributor of the locally made hermetic bag Kantong Semar, introduced their products.

Participants agreed that hermetic storage is a practical technology that can improve storage of rice seeds, paddy, and other crops. Several private seed companies in Indonesia have already started buying hermetic storage systems, but the anticipated adoption of farmers still requires public-sector involvement in the promotion and dissemination
of the technology.

In the afternoon session, the 40 participants identified additional adaptive research needs and discussed issues related to national dissemination to farming communities. As an immediate follow-up, a research team was formed to collect region-specific data on potential target groups and their existing storage practices. Standardization of testing methods and hermetic storage systems was another important issue to be addressed.

Providing training to farmer intermediaries and farmers is critical for a successful introduction of the technology. This can be complemented with information dissemination through the Indonesian Rice Knowledge Bank. For national dissemination, the hermetic storage systems can be introduced
through the Indonesian Prima Tani Program, which focuses on accelerating the transfer of research results to Indonesian farmers.

Martin Gummert (m.gummert@cgiar.org)
 

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