As we work together to build a food-secure future, one of the biggest challenges we face is protecting our hard-earned harvest from pests like weevils (often called “will will”). These tiny insects can quickly ruin bags of flour and garri, leading to significant waste and financial loss.
At Ayosifam Integrated Service Limited, we believe in sustainable, chemical-free solutions for food preservation. Here is a guide on how to naturally remove weevils and the best practices for preserving your potato, cassava, and grain flours for months.
Natural Ways to Remove Weevils
If you find weevils in your food, don’t panic. You can remove them without using harmful chemicals:
Sun Drying: Spread the affected flour or garri on a clean mat or tray under direct sunlight for several hours. The heat and light will cause the weevils to crawl out in search of shade.
Sieving: Use a very fine mesh sieve to separate the adult insects and larvae from the flour.
The Heat Method: Placing flour in an oven at a very low temperature (60°C) for a short period can kill eggs and larvae without cooking the flour.
The Best Way to Preserve Your Flours and Garri
Prevention is always better than cure. To keep your Potato flour, Cassava flour, Garri, Sorghum, Fufu, and Millet flour fresh for months, follow these gold standards:
1. Ensure Maximum Dryness
Weevils thrive in moisture. Using high-efficiency technology, like our Parabolic Shaped Solar Dryer (PSSD), ensures that flour is dried to the optimal moisture content (typically below 10-12%) before storage. This level of dryness makes it nearly impossible for pests to survive or eggs to hatch.
2. Use Airtight Containers
Once your flour is perfectly dry, store it in airtight plastic containers, glass jars, or thick, well-sealed polythene bags. This prevents moisture from the air from getting back in and blocks new insects from entering.
3. Natural Repellents
Place these natural “guards” inside or near your storage containers to keep pests away:
Dried Bay Leaves or Chili Peppers: The strong scent of bay leaves or dried peppers naturally repels weevils.
Cloves: A few whole cloves tucked into the top of your container can act as a powerful deterrent.
4. Cool and Dark Storage
Keep your containers in a cool, dry, and dark place. Sunlight and heat can cause “sweating” inside plastic bags, which creates the moisture that weevils love.
Why Proper Preservation Matters
When we preserve our food correctly, we reduce the 40% post-harvest loss that many farmers face. This ensures that nutrient-dense staples, like our bio-fortified Orange-Fleshed Sweet Potato (OFSP) flour, stay safe for your family to eat for months.
By choosing natural preservation methods, you are protecting your health and the environment while making the most of every harvest.
At Ayosifam, we are committed to climate-smart agriculture and food security. Visit our factory in Ilorin to learn more about our solar-dried, NAFDAC-certified products!
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