Countermeasures of Grain Loss Caused by Pests

In recent years, crop diseases and pests have occurred frequently due to climate conditions, invasive pests and other factors. The post-harvest grain loss rate in China is estimated at 10%, of which loss caused by stored grain pests is up to 5%. According to FAO’s statistics, pests account for 4% to 6% of global grain losses. According to expert estimates, more than 1,600 types of diseases, pests, weeds and rats frequently infest crops in China, of which over 100 can cause serious damage, and annual grain loss due to diseases and pests totals 14 million tons. This picture shows some common pests.

To effectively prevent and control pests, we should adhere to the following principles:

1. Safety is the prerequisite

Pesticides must be safe for people and do no harm to human health. They must be safe for the environment and shall not cause environmental pollution or put the ecosystem out of balance.

2. Hygiene is essential

Highly efficient chemical agents with low toxicity and low residues should be used to prevent harmful residues from affecting food safety.

3. Cost-effectiveness is a key consideration

Pest prevention and control should be cost-efficient, and the procedures involved should be as simple as possible.

4. Effectiveness is the key

We have summarized the following physical and biological pest prevention and control methods for your information:

(1) The layout of storage facilities should be reasonable. It is necessary to store equipment and grain in different warehouses, separate the grain warehouses from the processing plants, offices as well as quarantine and inspection laboratories, and store grain with pests and grain without pests separately.

(2) Ensure sanitation in the storage facilities.

(3) Empty the warehouses to kill pests when necessary.

(4) Grain warehouses should be equipped with pest-proof screen doors and windows, and pest repellents should be applied at the entrances to keep pests at bay.

(5) Before entering a grain warehouse, the personnel should keep their clothes, shoes and hats clean. They should first inspect the warehouse with pests and then the one without pests.

(6) Grain inspection tools and equipment should be free of pests, preferably used for specific warehouses. Quarantine and inspections involving major pests should be carried out.