Options for Insect Control in Grain Storage
As mentioned previously, insecticides have now
been in intensive use in grain storage practice in
Indonesia for 10 years. Despite their good results,
however, the emergence of insect resistance to
them seems likely. Indications of pesticide resistance
were reported by Haines and Pranata (1982).
Realising the problem, BULOG, as a part of
maintaining grain quality during storage, has
launched an Integrated Storage Pest Management
(ISPM) program for controlling insect pests.
Under this program, the use of pesticides is
integrated with various physical control strategies
and other measures such as 'new methods' of
controlling insects, provision of good storage
conditions, etc.
Since 1975, the Indonesian Government has
been constructing new storage complexes throughout
the country. The standard capacity of such
storage is 3500 t and so far almost 3 milllion t
capacity of new storage has been completed.
One of the promising methods of insect control
which has been tested in collaborative work with
CSIRO and TDRI is the use of carbon dioxide
(CO,). This method is basically a modified
atmosphere where the balance of gases inside
sealed stacks is changed to achieve conditions
which are lethal to insects, and if possible,
microorganisms. Since most of the rice in
Indonesia is stored in bags, it is quite expensive to
seal the whole storage. Sealing of individual stacks
has therefore been selected.