PICS Bags
PICS Global
Solution Overview & Benefits
PICS Bags (Purdue Improved Crop Storage) are an affordable, chemical-free grain storage solution designed to help smallholder farmers reduce post-harvest losses. Each PICS bag consists of two high-density polyethylene (HDPE) liners inside a woven polypropylene outer bag. Once filled with dried grain and tightly sealed, the inner layers create a hermetic environment that deprives insects of oxygen, effectively killing them and preventing infestation.
Key benefits include:
- Eliminates need for insecticides
- Preserves crop quality for up to a year or more
- Reduces post-harvest losses by up to 100%
- Protects against pests like weevils and bruchids
- Durable and reusable for multiple seasons
- Easy to use with no training or tools required
PICS bags are ideal for storing grains, legumes, and seeds including maize, cowpeas, sorghum, millet, rice, and beans.
History & Development
PICS technology was developed at Purdue University through partnerships with national agricultural research systems in West and Central Africa. Initially introduced in the early 2000s to combat cowpea weevils in West Africa, the solution quickly gained traction. With support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and USAID, PICS bags have expanded to over 35 countries across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, benefiting millions of smallholder farmers.
Availability
- Available: worldwide
- Price: $2–4 USD per bag, depending on country and bag size
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