Archives of Current Research International

Post-harvest crop loss remains a major challenge for smallholder farmers who rely heavily on stored seeds for future cultivation and household food security. The study evaluates the efficacy and economic viability of the hermetic storage bags compared with conventional woven polypropylene (PP)bags in storing the quality of rice (Oryza sativa) and maize (Zea mays) seeds. A multi-location field demonstration was conducted in Three villages of Nagaland, India-Chedema, Tesophenyu and Jotsoma Village to access the performance of the storage methods under real farming conditions.

The study focused on two key indicators during regular storage period: Physiological weight loss and the percentage of germinable seeds. Results demonstrated that hermetic storage significantly minimized weight loss compared to PP bags. Average weight loss in hermetic bags was1,2% for Rice and 1.8% for Maize, whereas traditional PP bags recorded much higher losses of 12.5% and 15.3% respectively. In addition to reducing physical losses, hermetic storage effectively maintained seed germination Vigor at or above 95% for both crops.in contrast, seeds stored using conventional methods showed a marked decline in viability, with germination rates dropping to nearly 70%.

A cost-benefit analysis was conducted to evaluate the financial feasibility of adopting hermetic storage technology. Although hermetic bags involve higher initial costs, these are reduced by seed damage, lower dependence on purchasing seeds and improved food security. Overall, the findings indicate that hermetic bags is practical and economically viable solution for maintaining seed quality and strengthening resilience within smallholder farming systems.