India news brief · Reported 2026-10-01 · Checked 2 October 2026
What happened
ICAR and the Food Corporation of India have signed an agreement to research alternatives to conventional fumigation for storage pests in wheat and rice. DD India reported the development on 1 October 2026.
Why it matters
The two-year first phase will be implemented by ICAR-CIPHET in Ludhiana. Reported trials include nitrogen, carbon dioxide and a combination of carbon dioxide and phosphine.
What readers should know
The project is a research programme; it is not a recommendation for farmers or warehouse owners to improvise treatments. Grain protection has to balance effectiveness, worker safety and appropriate operating procedures. The results of the trials, rather than the announcement alone, will determine how the proposed approaches can be used in practice.
Source: DD India, 1 October 2026, citing the Agriculture Ministry. This is an original summary, not on-the-ground reporting. Details may change after the reporting date.
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