THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE (minagri) has launched a new grain storage system to enable chemical-free storage. The Perdue Improved Crop Storage (PICS) system was launched at Mulindi Agricultural Expo Grounds on Saturday. The system was developed by International Centre for Tropical Agriculture.  Spéciose Kantengwa, a specialist at the centre, said the grains will be stored in a bag with three layers to prevent grains from contact with insects and air."The bags are tightly sealed to avoid penetration of insects from outside and to suffocate the pests packaged inside. Grains in the bag can last a year without damage,” she said, adding that one is required to clean and rinse the harvest before storage.The Minister for Agriculture, Dr Agnes Kalibata, welcomed the new system, saying it will enable farmers to keep their harvests as they wait for favourable prices.She said with proper storage, farmers can use their harvest as collateral to solicit bank loans since grains stored within this framework maintain quality and increase value on the markets.Collateral"The system maintains quality of harvest and increase competitiveness of the produce on the market as well as preventing effects of storing chemical products that were being used,” Dr Kalibata said.The system is being piloted in 448 cooperatives across the country.Celestin Gashirabake, from Twizerane cooperative in Bugesera District, said they used this system for two farming seasons and their grains have remained intact.Dr Kalibata said they are working with an Israeli company for quantitative production of the sacks and they are targeting the use of agro-dealers (those that sell fertilisers) to disseminate to farmers nationwide and to recover damaged bags to protect the environment.