MBC Grain Saver: Stop Losing Your Harvest to Weevils
Saving 30-40% of harvested grain from post-harvest pests is a critical challenge for smallholder farmers, as each $3 PICS hermetic bag investment can prevent up to $25 in grain losses. Maputo Bridge Capital (MBC), founded by Anselmo Boaventura in Fort Worth, Texas, focuses on connecting sponsors with verified smallholder farmers in Mozambique, working in partnership with the COJAZ cooperative in Zambezia to improve agricultural outcomes.
🛒 MBC Grain Saver Packs
Starter Pack — 5 Bags
For: Small household storage (250kg grain)
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Contents | 5 PICS hermetic bags (50kg each) |
| Storage capacity | 250kg grain |
| Bag lifespan | 3 years (reuse 6+ seasons) |
| Buy price | $40 |
| Delivery | MBC agent local coordination |
| Bonus | Free price alert subscription (3 months) |
Farmer Pack — 10 Bags ⭐ BEST SELLER
For: 1-hectare farmer (500kg grain)
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Contents | 10 PICS hermetic bags (50kg each) |
| Storage capacity | 500kg grain |
| Bag lifespan | 3 years (reuse 6+ seasons) |
| Buy price | $80 |
| Delivery | MBC agent coordination + training |
| Bonus | Free price alert subscription (6 months) |
| Total grain saved | $200-400 value saved per season |
Cooperative Pack — 50 Bags
For: Cooperatives and farmer groups (2,500kg grain)
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Contents | 50 PICS hermetic bags (50kg each) |
| Storage capacity | 2,500kg grain |
| Bag lifespan | 3 years (reuse 6+ seasons) |
| Buy price | $350 |
| Delivery | MBC agent coordination + group training session |
| Bonus | Free price alerts (12 months) + cooperative onboarding |
| Total grain saved | $1,000-2,000 value saved per season |
Village Pack — 100 Bags
For: Villages and large cooperatives (5,000kg grain)
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Contents | 100 PICS hermetic bags (50kg each) |
| Storage capacity | 5,000kg grain |
| Bag lifespan | 3 years (reuse 6+ seasons) |
| Buy price | $600 |
| Delivery | MBC agent coordination + village training event |
| Bonus | Free price alerts (12 months) + cooperative registration support |
| Total grain saved | $2,000-4,000 value saved per season |
How PICS Bags Work
The Problem
Every year, Mozambican farmers lose approximately $300 million to post-harvest pests. The typical cycle of loss involves harvesting maize in March or April, storing it in standard woven sacks that allow oxygen to penetrate, and subsequently suffering infestations where weevils lay eggs inside the grain. Within three months, 25-40% of the grain is destroyed, often leading to a total loss of 600-800kg and significant financial impact for the family.
The Solution: PICS Hermetic Bags
PICS (Purdue Improved Crop Storage) bags utilize triple-layer hermetic technology to isolate grain from the external environment:
- Layer 1 (inner): Polyethylene bag for an airtight seal.
- Layer 2 (middle): Polyethylene bag for a secondary barrier.
- Layer 3 (outer): Woven polypropylene bag for physical protection.
To operate this system, the farmer fills the bag with dry grain (ensuring moisture is below 13%), squeezes out excess air, and ties each layer separately with three distinct knots. Oxygen is then naturally depleted as insects consume it, causing them to die from oxygen starvation within 2-4 weeks. This preserves the grain for 12+ months with less than 5% loss, allowing farmers to store crops until market prices improve.
The Math
| Without PICS Bags | With PICS Bags |
|---|---|
| Harvest: 2,000 kg | Harvest: 2,000 kg |
| Loss: 30% = 600 kg | Loss: 5% = 100 kg |
| Grain saved: 1,400 kg | Grain saved: 1,900 kg |
| Difference: 500 kg saved | |
| At $0.35/kg (peak price) | $175 saved per season |
| Bag cost: 10 bags × $8 = $80 | |
| Net value: $95 per season |
The Nature of the Harvest
Agriculture as the engine of wealth: ten great books on farming, land, seed, water, risk and innovation, and who funds agriculture in Mozambique.
PDF ebook, instant download. $5 of every copy buys seed for a farmer.
Price Alerts: Sell at the Peak
PICS bags alone save grain from pests. But the real potential arises when combined with MBC market monitoring strategies.
The Double Win
| Action | Without Storage Technology | With Hermetic Storage |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | Woven sack (30-40% loss) | PICS bag (5% loss) |
| When to sell | At harvest (price low) | When price peaks (3-6 months later) |
| Price received | $0.15/kg | $0.35/kg |
| Revenue from 2 tons | $300 | $700 |
| Total gain | — | $400 additional income |
How Price Alerts Work
- MBC monitors commodity prices daily from FAO, World Bank, and local markets.
- When price hits your target threshold, you receive an SMS via M-Pesa.
- Example: "Maize price in Maputo: $0.35/kg (↑ 133% from harvest price) — SELL NOW."
- You sell your PICS-stored grain at the peak price.
- You manage your operational costs from the sale proceeds.
Market monitoring is an essential tool for maximizing agricultural value, ensuring that farmers can make informed decisions based on real-time data.
Microloan Option: Pay Monthly, Not Upfront
Can't afford the full cost upfront? Payment structures are designed to be accessible for smallholder farmers.
MBC Grain Saver Support
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Support amount | 80% of pack price |
| Interest rate | 0% (zero interest) |
| Repayment period | 10 months |
| Repayment schedule | Monthly via M-Pesa |
| Requirement | Satellite NDVI + M-Pesa history |
| Grace period | 3 months (start paying after harvest) |
| Late fee | $2/month |
| Eligibility | Any farmer with M-Pesa account + verified by MBC agent |
Example: Farmer Pack Structure
| Month | Payment | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | $0 | Receive 10 PICS bags + training |
| 1-3 | $0 | Grace period — planting season |
| 4-6 | $0 | Grace period — growing season |
| 7 | $8 | Harvest — sell grain, start paying |
| 8 | $8 | — |
| 9 | $8 | — |
| 10 | $8 | Sell at peak price |
| 11 | $8 | — |
| 12 | $8 | Completion |
| Total | $80 | Same as cash price, 0% interest |
MBC Agent Delivery
Every Grain Saver Pack is delivered by a trained MBC field agent:
- Delivery: Agent brings bags to your farm.
- Training: 15-minute demonstration — how to fill, seal, and check bags.
- Verification: Agent confirms bag condition and registers you in the system.
- Alert setup: Agent registers your phone for SMS alerts.
- Follow-up: Agent visits 1 month later to check bag condition.
Agent delivery cost: Free within 50km of any MBC collection hub. $10 beyond 50km.
Supported Crops
PICS hermetic bags work for:
| Crop | Storage Duration | Loss Reduction |
|---|---|---|
| Maize | 12+ months | 95% |
| Beans | 12+ months | 95% |
| Rice | 12+ months | 95% |
| Peanuts | 8+ months | 90% |
| Sorghum | 12+ months | 95% |
| Sesame | 12+ months | 95% |
| Cowpeas | 12+ months | 95% |
| Cassava (dried chips) | 8+ months | 85% |
Quality Guarantee
- PICS bags are manufactured to Purdue University specifications.
- Triple-layer construction (2 inner polyethylene + 1 outer woven).
- Each bag tested for air-tightness before shipping.
- 3-year warranty against manufacturing defects.
- If a bag fails within 3 years, MBC replaces it free.
Order Now
3 Ways to Order
-
WhatsApp: (516) 360-8323 — Send us a message with your pack choice
-
M-Pesa: Send payment to MBC business account + WhatsApp your delivery address
-
MBC Agent: Ask your local MBC agent to bring a pack on their next visit
Payment Options
| Method | Detail |
|---|---|
| M-Pesa | Pay full amount for supplies |
| Cash | Pay agent on delivery |
| Planning | Monthly scheduling via M-Pesa |
Support PICS Grain Storage
Help us put PICS bags in the hands of 100,000 Mozambican farmers through our partnerships with the COJAZ cooperative in Zambezia:
-
$500 = 62 bags = 31 farmers protected
-
$5,000 = 625 bags = 312 farmers protected
-
$50,000 = 6,250 bags = 3,125 farmers protected
-
Projected impact: $1.5M in grain saved, $300K in farmer income increased
The Smallholder Farmer's Season
For a smallholder farmer in Mozambique, the harvest season is a critical period where the risk of loss is highest. By utilizing PICS bags, a farmer can seal their grain immediately after harvest, preventing insects and moisture from destroying the crops. This technology allows farmers to store grain safely throughout the off-season, ensuring they have food for their families and enough surplus to sell at better prices when market availability decreases.
Frequently asked questions
What are PICS bags? PICS (Purdue Improved Crop Storage) bags are hermetic storage containers designed to protect grain from insects, moisture, and mold without the use of chemical pesticides.
Why is post-harvest loss a concern? In many agricultural regions, as much as 30% of harvested grain is lost to pests and rot before it can be consumed or sold, significantly reducing the farmer's annual income.
How do hermetic bags work? The bags create an airtight environment that cuts off oxygen to pests, effectively killing weevils and preventing them from damaging the stored grain.
Maputo Bridge Capital, founded by Anselmo Boaventura in Fort Worth, Texas, connects sponsors with verified smallholder farmers in Mozambique to support sustainable agriculture. A sponsor gives from $25; the money goes directly to the farmer's local seed and fertilizer shop, and the sponsor receives the receipt and field photos. Sponsorships are gifts, not investments, and are not tax-deductible. To support a farmer, visit /sponsor-a-farmer-mozambique.
