Page 52 - CIJ July 2024 Digital Edition

PEST MANAGEMENT

Fumigation:
Challenges and

New Innovations

in the Market

Fumigation plays an essential role in protecting
crops, stored products, and ensuring compliance
with export standards. This process involves the use
of gaseous pesticides, or fumigants, to exterminate
pests within an enclosed area. Despite its critical
importance, fumigation faces numerous challenges

and requires innovative solutions to make it safer,
more efficient, and environmentally sustainable, says
Vishal Shetty, CEO, Pest Mortem India Pvt. Ltd

Challenges in Fumigation producing these fumigants and Despite decades of research, a

Health and Safety Challenge: selling them on the black market, viable commercial alternative
contributing to the aforementioned
is still unavailable. Companies
Fumigation uses toxic chemicals tragedies. are developing recapturing
that pose significant health risks, technologies, but they are not yet
necessitating strict safety protocols Therefore, it is crucial to enforce
and adherence to regulations to strict control over the entire supply viable on a large scale.
protect workers and inhabitants. chain to prevent such accidents in Resistance Development:
Improper residential use, the future. Over time, pests have developed
despite restrictions to industrial Environmental Challenge: resistance to common fumigants,
applications, has led to recent Traditional fumigants like methyl diminishing their effectiveness.
fatalities, highlighting the critical bromide are effective but harm Proper monitoring and adoption
need for meticulous management the ozone layer. International of new fumigation strategies
and monitoring of fumigation agreements like the Montreal are essential to ensure effective
processes. Protocol have phased out these insect population control, utilizing
Additionally, there have been chemicals, prompting the need methods like pheromone traps and
instances of illegal manufacturers for eco-friendly alternatives. insect vials.

JULY 2024•Clean India Journal
52 www.cleanindiajournal.com