Fumigation key to safety of agri products

Islamabad:Fumigation is a vital element and reliable method for treating all imported agricultural products to prevent the spread of invasive pests and diseases, said agriculture experts.

They said this here at a seminar held to highlight the importance of The Methyl Bromide (MeBr) fumigation treatment in the agriculture sector. The participants included as agricultural scientists, plant protection officer, insect specialists, plant disease specialists, fumigation specialist, pest control experts and others.

They said that as a powerful fumigant, MeBr protects commodities like grains, fruits, and wood, eliminating harmful insects, larvae and eggs that may threaten local ecosystems in the country.

“This treatment is mandated under international phytosanitary regulations to ensure bio-security and protect domestic agriculture from contamination. Without MeBr fumigation, countries risk introducing foreign pests that could devastate crops, cause economic losses, and disrupt food supply chains,” they stated. It should be avoided by quarantine lapses in the rice, sesame and corn export sectors.

While explaining technicalities of the MeBr fumigation, the experts stated that it is a broad-spectrum fumigant that targets insects, nematodes, fungi, bacteria, and weed seeds, making it a reliable method for ensuring that agricultural products are free from harmful organisms.

Using the fumigation method is also necessary to fulfilling the international phytosanitary standards, they said, adding that many countries have strict regulations on the import and export of agricultural commodities to prevent the entry of pests and diseases. “Fumigating with MeBr ensures compliance with these standards, helping exporters avoid trade barriers, shipment rejections, or bans,” the experts claimed.

In addition to its use in trade, fumigation is also applied in pre-plant soil treatment. This is common in high-value crops such as strawberries, tomatoes and peppers, where soil-borne pests and pathogens can significantly affect yield and quality.

The experts also expressed their surprise over recent move of national agri-trade and food security authority to ban Methyl Bromide.As per information, major trading partners of the country for these agri products are Australia, New Zealand, Vietnam, USA, Russia, Thailand, Korea, and Mexico and they strictly enforce phytosanitary import conditions that require effective quarantine treatments like methyl bromide fumigation.

Moreover, neighboring countries with similar or superior agricultural profiles continue to rely on methyl bromide fumigation in compliance with international standards. India, Thailand, the Philippines, and Bangladesh carefully apply MeBr to disinfect agricultural commodities, recognizing that alternatives such as heat treatment, controlled atmosphere, or irradiation remain largely infeasible or unapproved by IPPC for broad-spectrum use.Afghanistan - often cited as less resourced - continues to mandate methyl bromide fumigation for agricultural imports.