AgroZ® Bag

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AgroZ® Bag is multi-layered hermetic bag recommended for the storage of grains and pulses for six to nine months and sometimes longer period of time to protect against insects and pests without using pesticide dusts

• AgroZ® Bag is recommended for the storage of maize, sorghum, rice, millet, dried beans and other pulses
• AgroZ® Bag comes in standard size of 80 cm x 130 cm which can store 100 kg of maize and can be reused for three seasons or more  

Background: AgroZ® Bag is a multi-layer hermetic storage bag developed by A to Z Textile Mills Ltd. through its R&D wing, the Africa Technical Research Centre (ATRC). It helps to reduce the postharvest losses in maize and pulses. It is a simple, convenient, affordable and organic response to the grains damage by insect pests. 

Specifications: AgroZ® Bag is composed of two distinct bags. One polypropylene (PP) outer bag and a multi-layer inner liner. The multi-layer liner is co-extruded combining HDPE, MLLDPE and low permeability barrier layers preventing the passage of gases such as oxygen, carbon dioxide and water vapor

Mode of action: AgroZ® Bag is a hermetic storage bag. Once filled with maize and closed, it acts as a strong barrier to oxygen. The oxygen already inside the bag is depleted by both the stored grains & pulses and the insects through their normal respiration. AgroZ® Bag is a fully organic solution for grain and pulses preservation and storage. It controls insect pests without any pesticide.
What kills insects is the oxygen depletion hence the importance of having a good barrier to oxygen.

Condition of use: Hermetic storage bags should be used with grain which has been dried to the recommended moisture content. It is usually recommended to dry to 13% - 14 % moisture content. If grain is stored in hermetic storage bags without being properly dried, the risk is to turn the produce into silage and would result in a deterioration of the produce quality.

Target pests and crops: AgroZ® Bag is used for the storage of grains and pulses against damage from insect pests. In the case of maize and dried cassava with serious infestation of the Larger Grain Borer (LGB), we recommend not to use, as LGB are well adapted to boring through both wood & plastic and damage the hermetic property.

Benefits: Farmers who can afford to store the grains and not sell hurriedly during the harvest season at a lower price, have opportunity to earn better price and make better profits from their harvest after storing for a few months in AgroZ® Bag. There is no loss of moisture and hence no loss of weight of the stored grains. Grains are pesticide dust free and ready to consume any time.

Maize turned to unga powder by the insect pests in normal PP Bag	Maize destroyed by insect pests including LGB in normal PP Bag	Maize seen fresh even after7 months in the AgroZ® Bag

AgroZ® Bag Plus

AgroZ® Bag Plus is a premium product specially designed for the storage of maize and dried cassava in areas where these crops are regularly and heavily attacked by the larger grain borer (LGB).

AgroZ® Bag Plus comes in standard size of 80 cm x 130 cm which can store 100 kg of maize and can be reused for three seasons or more

Background: AgroZ® Bag Plus is a hermetic storage bag developed by A to Z Textile Mills Ltd. through its R&D wing, the Africa Technical Research Centre (ATRC) in order to reduce postharvest losses mainly in maize and dried cassava. AgroZ® Bag Plus is the first insecticide treated hermetic storage bag specifically designed to control insect borers such as LGB, which cannot perforate through it. A patent has been applied for this innovation in the field of postharvest losses mitigation.

Description: AgroZ® Bag Plus is composed of two distinct bags. One polypropylene outer bag and a multi-layer inner liner. The multi-layer liner is a co-extruded combining HDPE, MLLDPE and low permeability barrier layers preventing the passage of gases such as oxygen, carbon dioxide and water vapor.

Insecticide incorporation: The hermetic liner of AgroZ® Bag Plus includes a central layer incorporating a repellent insecticide (alpha-cypermethrin) sandwiched between two barrier layers which prevent the migration of the insecticide either to inner surface or to the grain within the bag or to the outside surface of the bag. Therefore the grains stored are safe from pesticide residues as tested by SGS laboratory.

Mode of action: AgroZ® Bag Plus is a hermetic storage bag. Once filled with maize and closed it acts as a strong barrier to oxygen and the remaining oxygen inside the bag is depleted by both the grains stored and the insects through their normal respiration. Larger grain borer adults, which are well adapted to piercing through both wood and plastic, are prevented from perforating the inner liner due to the insecticide incorporation. 

Condition of use: Hermetic storage bags should be used with grains which have been dried to the recommended moisture content. It is usually recommended to dry to 13% to 14 % moisture content. If grain is stored in hermetic storage bags without being properly dried, the risk is to turn the produce into silage, which would result in the deterioration of the produce quality.

Target pests and crops: AgroZ® Bag Plus is used in areas with serious infestation of insects’ borers such as LGB, Rhizopertha etc. as seen in maize and dried cassava.

Benefits: Farmers who can afford to store the grains and not sell hurriedly during the harvest season at a lower price, have opportunity to earn better price and make better profits from their harvest after storing for a few months in AgroZ® Bag . There is no loss of moisture and hence no loss of weight of the stored grains. Grains are pesticide dust free and ready to consume any time.