Based on the field assessment of the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (DA-PhilMech), the flatbed driers (FBDs) that were distributed by the DA-PhilMech to farmers, has allowed its beneficiaries to earn more from the sale of their palay (unmilled rice).
The FBDs have improved the quality of their palay and reduced postharvest losses, based on its initial findings, resulting from the DA-PhilMech nationwide assessment of the impact of FBDs in July 2010.
DA-PhilMech has included in its mechanization program to support national rice production from 2011 to 2016 the distribution of about 3,000 more FBDs. FBDs distributed in rice producing provinces at present are 2,189.
“Data from the field showed that FBDs have made a significant impact on the grain drying activities of farmers, since they are able to sell their palay at a higher price even during the wet season, because of the improved quality of their unmilled grains, and reduce postharvest losses,” said DA-PhilMech Executive Director Ricardo L. Cachuela.
Farmers who have their palay dried by FBDs can sell at a much higher price, or even up to 100% higher than the palay dried on the pavement, streets, or highways, based on DA-PhilMech’s field assessments.
In Negros Occidental for instance, farmers that have their palay dried by FBDs are able to sell their palay from P13 to P15 per kilo during the wet season. On the other hand, palay dried on the streets, pavements or highways during the wet season that still has a high moisture content can fetch a price of only P5 per kilo. In Occidental Mindoro, farmers that have their palay dried by FBDs can sell as high as P17 per kilo during the wet season, compared to the P7 for palay dried the traditional way.
Overall, postharvest losses were reduced from around 20% to 25% to 10% to 15%.“DA-PhilMech can tell more success stories on how the FBDs have improved the earnings of farmers in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, but what have learned clearly is that the proper operation of FBDs by farmer organization is the key to gaining the benefits of the dryers,” Cachuela said.
The FBDs that were distributed are mostly operated by farmer organizations like irrigators’ associations (IAs), most of which have shown capabilities to operate and maintain the flatbed dryers.
FBDs use rice hull to generate heat for drying purposes, and can dry wet palay to 14 percent moisture content in 10 to 12 hours. Besides higher selling prices, most farmer organizations that use the FBDs also realize an income from the operation of the facilities.
“This goes to show that farmers or farmer organizations, with the proper training, can effectively operate agriculture equipment like flatbed driers, and even realize an income from its operations,” Cachuela said. Ester Z. Gallardo, PSciJourn MegaManila
