Ngara, TZ – PICS bags improve crop storage and sustainable breakfast serving for children – Jul 2025

With the assistance of SODAT and Better Lives, the Kabalenzi, Mukirehe, and Mukibogoye Primary Schools replaced costly and short-lived polypropylene corn and bean bags with durable Purdue Improved Crop Storage “PICS bags” for storing corn and beans for a longer lasting use in order to ensure a sustainable security stock.

These triple-layered bags eliminate the need for pesticides, and preserve the food safely until the next harvest season, and have good durability to last up to five years storage but without transportation.

Previously, the schools spent over 1,152,000 TZS / US$ 460 in four years on bags and preservatives. Now, with a one-time investment of 275,000 TZS / US$ 110 in PICS bags they have cut storage costs, improved food safety, and ensured consistent, healthy breakfast for students from 2021 to 2025.

This simple improvement has boosted student health, attendance, and performance, while promoting safer and sustainable food security storage and practices in the wider community families.