Efficacy of Hermetic Storage Bags in Preserving Seed Viability and Controlling Prostephanus truncatus in Maize Farms of Northern Malawi

African Journal of Agriculture | Vol. 13, No. 5, May 2026 | pp. 017–024

DOI: 10.46882/2026/AJA/000736

Article Type: Original Research Article

Title: Efficacy of Hermetic Storage Bags in Preserving Seed Viability and Controlling Prostephanus truncatus in Maize Farms of Northern Malawi

Names of Authors: Chikondi W. Phiri¹, Limbani G. Gondwe²

Authors’ Affiliations: ¹Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Lilongwe, Malawi; ²Bunda College of Agriculture, Crop Protection Department, Lilongwe, Malawi

Abstract: The larger grain borer (Prostephanus truncatus Horn) is an aggressive, destructive post-harvest pest that causes massive storage losses for maize farmers throughout East and Southern Africa. Traditional woven polypropylene bags offer zero physical protection against insect invasion, forcing smallholders to rely heavily on chemical insecticides. This study evaluated the comparative efficacy of three commercial hermetic storage bags (PICS™, GrainPro™, and Elite Bags) against conventional woven bags for protecting stored maize against P. truncatus over an 8-month period. Maize grain samples with an initial moisture content of 12.5% ± 0.3% were artificially infested with 20 active adult borers per bag and stored under ambient rural conditions in northern Malawi. Destructive sampling was conducted at 2-month intervals to monitor oxygen levels, insect mortality, grain weight loss, and seed germination rates. By month 4, oxygen concentration inside the hermetic layers dropped from 20.9% to below 4.5%, inducing 100% insect mortality across all three hermetic bag brands. After 8 months of storage, maize in the conventional bags sustained 34.8% weight loss, and germination dropped to 14.5%. Conversely, maize stored in hermetic bags suffered negligible weight loss (< 0.8%) while maintaining a seed germination rate above 88.0%. These findings demonstrate that hermetic storage technologies provide clean, chemical-free protection that preserves both food safety and seed viability.

Keywords: Hermetic storage, Prostephanus truncatus, Post-harvest loss, Seed germination, Smallholder assets, Malawi

Manuscript Timeline: Received: February 02, 2026; Revised: March 15, 2026; Accepted: April 05, 2026; Published: May 12, 2026

Citation: Phiri, C. W., & Gondwe, L. G. (2026). Efficacy of Hermetic Storage Bags in Preserving Seed Viability and Controlling Prostephanus truncatus in Maize Farms of Northern Malawi. African Journal of Agriculture, 13(5), 017–024. DOI: 10.46882/2026/AJA/000736

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