A team of researchers at Tamil Nadu Agri University (TNAU) has come up with a gadget, a ‘Pitfall Trap’ to do away with pests in flour, spice powders and minor millets.
People usually discard the flour if they find it infested with insects or other pests. According to the researchers, the pitfall trap can help avoid waste. It works like a probe trap used in grains but is modified to trapinsects in flour and minor millets.
A perforated top lid is fitted to a cylindrical tumbler-shaped container with a fine sieve at the bottom. A rod is fitted to the top of the lid to insert the trap inside the flour or spice powder container.
The TNAU team is yet to start commercial production of the trap but enquiries are coming from millers. The device is simple to use, chemical-free and helps in early detection of insects. The device will be priced between Rs140 and 150.