Previous19. Reduction of Milling Losses in Village Level Rice Milling
In the mid seventies, the country's rice production reached surplus levels enabling the country to export rice. Of the total rice stocks, the volume held at farm level is very significant. This is usually milled in small processing units called steel-huller mills which are claimed to deliver low milling recovery and poor quality milled rice. However, due to calamities the country has suffered in the last five years, the country shifted from a modest rice exporter to rice importer. Therefore, the need to upgrade the milling performance at village level rice milling of grains particularly the steel-huller mills was deemed imperative.
NAPHIRE launched this project with the ultimate aime of reducing losses in village level milling of grains. Specifically, the project sought to evaluate the performance of steel huller mills in terms of different factors (machine, product, human) affecting milling yield and quality of milled rice. Also, it was geared towards the identification of socio-economic factors contributing to the widespread use of steel-huller mills and the development of policy recommendations for the improvement of milling performance of village ricemills.
The project was composed of two phases. Phase I is a performance evaluation of steel huller mills and Phase II is a socio-economic survey on the popularity of steel-huller mills.
Results showed no significant milling recovery differences among brands and input capacity (regardless of season and grain size).
The mode of payment had an effect on milling recovery. Payment in cash generated better milling recovery, as operator tends to maximize milled rice production, having milled rice output as the bais of payment. Payment in kind, in from of byproducts, generated lower milling recovery as operator maximize by-product production.
Results of the socio-economic survey showed that the widespread popularity of the steel huller mill is a compound effect of the existing socioeconomic and infrastructural conditions in rural villages. At the miller's level, it was found to be popular because of its low initial cost and long per unit life span, relative ease in mill operation are served as an extension of family activity, complementing. At the client level the mill was found to be popular because of its relative accessibility, compatability of needs of the villagers, and the relationship/kinship existing between the miller and the client.
On the other hand, the poor milling performance of village mills was found to be largely associated with the poor paddy quality held at farm gate and the inherent characteristic of the village steel huller mill. It is expected that the improvement of either one of the two would help improve milling performance at village level operations.
20. A Study of a Farmer Based Enterprise (Philip. pines) (KAISA Case Study)
In the pursuit of rural development and to uplift the lives of small farmers in the countryside, an institutional approach in the form of Carmer's Associations or cooperatives could be employed. These institutions could serve as channels for the adoption of innovations and provide means by which development and structural transformation in rural communities could be affected.
The venture of farmer groups/associations in the country has a history characterized by constant failures. A case in point is the Kalipunan ng Irrigators Service Association (KAISA) in Calauan, Laguna. It is a federation, at the provincial level, of 5 smaller municipal irrigators service associations. Organized by Farm Systems Development Corporation (FSDC), the farmer group was a beneficiary of a loan which was invested in postharvest facilities such as a warehouse, ricemill, mechanical dryer and trucks among others. The group formally began in 1980 and for some years was able to operate. The farmer-members would assemble their produce at the warehouse for drying, storage, milling and/or marketing. Yet, for some reasons which are not fully understood, KAISAS's operation slowly faltered and finally ceased in 1985.
This study aims to determine the necessary requirements that would enable farmers groups to be successful adoptors of postharvest technologies and active participants in the marketing system of paddy, with KAISA as the subject.
In depth analysis showed that the following factors contributed to the failure of KAISA: a) lack of commitment of the manager, b) undefined roles and functions of the employees and officers of the association, c) depleting working capital due to uncollected revenues and d) inefficient performance of mechanical dryers.
Problems identified by the farmers from the operations of the association were as follows: a) poor procurement services b) delayed payment of their produce c) lack of coordination between members and the management (association) d) inconveniences due to distance of the farms of members and the warehouse/facilities of the association.
Factors which influenced the farmers to market their produce outside the association were as follows: a) prevailing commercial high price, b) availability of local buyers c) extension of credit d) convenience since the stocks were picked up from the farm e) traditional buyer and f) presence of market for wet paddy.
Expressed needs/services of the farmers from the association were as follows: a) production loan, b) good price for their produce, c) transport and drying facilities.
The technical evaluation of the existing facilities of the association suggested to replace the batch type dryers instead of repairing it because it would only entail additional cost yet the total capacity will still be incompatible with the total drying requirements of the association.
Analysis of two others KAISA's, San Fernando KAISA in La Union and the Tacloban KAISA in Leyte, showed that the common factor which contributed to their success is the strong management capability of the person in charge of the operation. Even without much support from the members if the manager has the skill to manage a business enterprise, it will successfully operate. The presence of strong management capability with person who handle the business was also observed with the Free Farmer Cooperative, Incorporated (FFCI) in Tagum, Davao del Norte.
The study revealed that the following requirements should be met in order to make farmer groups active participants in the post harvest operation: a) strong management capability, b) enough working capital c) compatible post harvest facilities and d) provide service to the needs of the members.
Feasibility study of rehabilitating the Calauan KAISA required an additional capital of P 1.5 million for trading, operating expenses and for the acquisition of a continuous flow mechanical dryer. Using these facilities plus the additional capital would generate an average income of P 2.0 million per annum. The additional capital of P 1.52 million and the previous loan amounting to P 1.43 million could be paid back after 4.65 years. The Net Present Value of investment (NPV) after ten years would be P 4.42 million at a 12% discount rate, while the computed IRR would be 29%.
21. Development of a Viable Drying Scheme for Mill Level of Operations.
Significant grain losses and quality deterioration occurs due to inability of farmers and traders alike to reduce the high moisture content of freshly harvested grain at a rate fast enough to arrest spoilage. The difficulty becomes severe particularly during-the main season crop which is harvested during the rainy months of the year where sundrying cannot be relied upon. Despite the availability of several mechanical drying technologies and obvious need for such facilities by the industry, the private sector has been quite reluctant to use mechanical dryers.
The gap between generation and application of the drying technology is indeed wide. There is a need then to examine more closely why this has been so, through a system approach, that will consider the totality of the grain post harvest system will drying as the focus of the analysis.
The project therefore, presents a study on the development of a viable scheme by providing a dryerrice mill combination into the post harvest system particularly at trader/miller level. It is traders/millers Involved can there easily relate the effects of proper drying to improved milled rice quality and increased business income. An appropriate drying scheme matching the requirements of the existing post harvest system for a typical trader/miller was developed.
The viable scheme is currently being pilot tested in Cagayan Valley, Philippines, one of the highest palay producting regions in the country, and whereby paddy drying is a major problem due to the occurence of high precipitatin level; determine if integration of the mechanical dryer in the cooperator's rice milling business will be viable or profitable. Internal Rate of Return (IRR) and Pay Back Period (PBP) were the measures
Drying
Sundrying is the usual practice in the area. Farmers make use of acorrugated drying pavement with alternating parallel ridges and grooves designed especially for the rainy season. When a sudden change in weather condition occurs at the time the grains are on the pavement dryer, they gather the maize at the ridge then cover it with canvass to prevent it from getting wet. The grooves serve as a passageway for the rainwater dropping from the maize plastic cover.
When all drying pavements are occupied, farmers also utilize their barangay plaza and basketball courts in drying maize wherein mats are spread and used as underlays.
Most of the Tampakan farmers have their own corrugated drying pavement. Drying a batch of maize can be finished in one day depending on the heat intensity of the sun. In some instances, delays from shelling to drying occur ranging from 1 to 7 days. Cost of renting a drying pavement including laborers ranges from P 0.50 to P 2/00/ sack.
Marketing
A farmer sells from 40 to 70 cavans shelled maize per hectare per season to local traders. The maize is disposed either wetshelled or dry shelled depending on the availability of dryer in the area and the agreement between farmers and traders. These traders are usually financiers of he farmers. Tampakan and Marbel farmers sell their produce dryshelled while the majority of Banga farmers sell it wetshelled.
At times, temporary storage from 1 to 15 days exists because the buyers pick up the maize at the farm level all at the same time.
Local traders deliver the grains to the wholesalers using 6-wheeler trucks carrying around 100 sacks per trip. For ten wheeler trucks, it can carry around 400 sacks per trip. The wholesalers in turn sell it to the processors located in Cebu and Manila.
Storage
Storage of corn intended for sale is rarely practiced by farmers because of immediate need of cash for the next planting season. Only a small amount is left at home unshelled and set aside for feeds and seeds. Seeds are stored and use for the next planting season.
At the trader level, storing of maize is done for a period of 1 to 14 days. Maize stored and kept in sacks are either wet, semi-dry or dry. Wet and semi dry marize are further dried or mixed with other maize stocks befor selling it to other local traders and wholesablers in the locality.
Storage at the wholesalers level lasts for one month or at most two months. They store the maize in bags.
23. Design and Development of a Low Cost Shelled Maize Dryer
Farmers usually harvest maize with an initial moisture content exceeding 30%, which is too high for storage. This condition also favors the growth of microorganisms, germination and discoloration of the grains.
It is estimated that about 70% of the total maize produced in Mindanao has an aflatoxin level more than 20 ppb. Such a high build-up of aflatoxin was traced to the delay in drying practiced by maize farmers.
Farmers experience delays in drying their maize stocks due to the prevailing inclement weather in the area during harvest season and lack/absence of mechanical dryers. Most farmers do not rely on mechanical dryers due to its high investment and operating cost. The capacity of existing dryers are not compatible with the volume of their produce. Hence, there is a need to develop a mechanical dryer appropriate to their needs.
Project Highlights:
A survey conducted in South Cotabato revealed that only farms engaged in the production of hybrid corn own a mechanical dryer and it is mainly used in drying their seeds. The main reason for the nonutilization of mechanical dryers by most farmers is due to the high acquisition and operating cost. Farmers/traders commonly rely on the sundrying method due to the low cost involve in drying their produce. However, quantity and quality losses are usually high especially during the rainy season due to delays in drying. A significant quantity of the stored wet corn grains deteriorated in storage. Deteriorated grains are normally mixed with good grains at a 1:20 ratio and are sold to wholesalers at a discounted price ranging of 25%-30% of the prevailing price.
The dryer developed by NARHIRE use bagged maize grains as the retaining walls and can be installed on the floors of existing warehouses. It has a capacity of 2.5 tons. Grain with initial moisture content ranging from 25% to 30% (w.b.) could be effectively dried from 7 to 9 hours at a temperature of 60°C and an airflow rate ranging of profitability, used in the feasibility study. Integrating a mechanical dryer into a rice milling business with a 100,000 cavan level of procurement would have incremental IRR of 31.92% and a PBP of 4.6 years. If the level of procurement increase up to 130,000 cavans with the dryer, and the wet paddy to 18% moisture content using the mechanical dryer rather than sundried it down to 14% moisture content, then its incremental IRR goes up to 32.22% with PBP of 4.76 years. If there would be an inclement weather condition, the 130,000 cavans will then be dried to 18% (1st stage) then to 14% moisture content (second stage) using the mechanical dryer, this will result to an incremental IRR of 31.19% and a PBP of 4.97 years. The assumptions used in the feasibility study will be pilot tested for one dry season and two wet seasons trials. Another pilot mill located in Isabela, also one of the high paddy producing province in Cagayan Valley was selected to replicate the first pilot mill.
If the drying scheme is proven viable economically, technically and socially, a program for nationwide campaign for the adoption of mechanical dryers at the trader/miller level will be recommended.
22. Control of Aflatoxin in Maize
Study 2: Maize Production and Post-Production System
South Cotablato is one of the major corn producing areas in the country wherein eighty four percent (84%) of its total land area are planted with maize. It has 14 municipalities contributing to the growth of the industry.
Three of its municipalities with high production of maize are Tampakan, Marbel and Banga. They have sandy loam type of soil suitable for maize production. General Santos City is the main trading center where all the maize produced in the province are channelled. It is 60 kms away from Marbel, the town capital.
Most of the local traders/assemblers are situated in Marbel where every barangay is 4 to 15 kms. away from the town proper. Seventy percent (70%) of corn produced are yellow while 30% are white.
Tampakan is around 22 kms. away by rough road from Marbel. More than 10 barangays cover the municipality but only 7 barangays are producing maize. It has 6,300 land area devoted to maize, producing about 4,100 tons per cropping season. Three active Samahang Nayons (SN) are operating with pavement dryers of their own available for rent but catering primarily for their members.
Banga is a 15 kms. travel to Marbel. It has the largest corn area with 20 barangays all of which produces corn. A total of 12,350 ha. is cultivated producing 6,000 tons per cropping season. Three active SN are also operating in the area helping its members dispose their produce to the local traders and wholesalers.
Pre-harvest/harvesting practices
Seventy four percent (74%) of the farmers at the pilot site plant maize twice a year. Varieties planted are the yellow or high yielding varieties (HYV) and the "Cebu White" or "Tinigib". HYV's popularly used (61 %) by farmers mature at 105-110 days after planting while Tinigib have 90-100 days to maturity. Farmers usually harvest on time but delays or advances in harvesting also happen from 15 days due mainly to bad weather conditions.
Harvesting is done through manual ear picking method. Dehusking is performed in the field before sacking and transporting the maize to the farmer's house. Hauling is also done the same day to prevent the maize from being stolen at the farm area. Laborers ranging from 15 to 20 persons can finish harvesting a hectare of mize in one day producing around 100 to 160 sacks (in cobs) or 60-90 cavans wetshelled, including dehusking and hauling. In harvesting, sharing arrangements are followed in which the owner pays the harvesters 10% of their total harvest.
Shelling
Shelling of maize follows after harvest. No predrying prior to shelling is done by farmers to reduce the high MC of maize. If predrying will be practiced, it would entail additional cost for the farmers. Mechanical shellers are popularly used in the survey area with a capacity of between 60 to 80 cavans per hour and a shelling recovery of about 65%-75%. Mobile shellers are more frequently used than stationary models as it can be transported from one farm to another where it is needed. Enough shellers are existing in the site but in spite of this, harvested maize is not shelled immediately. Delays in shelling happen from 1 day to 14 days. Maize held in sacks after harvest still remain in the bags until the time it is ready for shelling.
Most of the existing shellers are owned by the local traders. Some farmers owning shellers are found only in Tampakan. A P3.00 rate is charged per sack including labor when renting a sheller from 36.87 to 45.29 cubic meter per minute per cubic meter of grain.
Project Impact
Adoption of the developed mechanical dryer will enable the farmers/traders to sell their produce to wholesalers at the prevailing market price without any price deduction. With the availability of this dryer, immediate drying by the farmers/ traders of their maize stock is possible, thus minimizing quantity and quality losses.
24. Utilization of Solar Energy for Grain Drying
A well-designed solar-heated grain dryer using a solar collector provides a better alternative to open-air sundrying in order to take advantage of the abundance of solar energy and to keep grain losses to the minimum.
This study therefore developed a solar grain drying system suitable for farm operations. It consisted of a solar heat collector, a flatbed dryer using rice hullfired furnace, and a rock heat storage.
Results indicated that the developed drying system is capable of drying 1.83 tonne of wet paddy from 24% moisture content (M.C.) to 13% M.C. within 8 hours. The drying air temperature obtained in the plenum ranged from 93.58°F to 100.77°F. The high airflow and insulation rates contributed to its high collector efficiency ranging from 46.35% to 64.03%.
Results also showed that drying cost using the system assuming an economic lifespan of five (5) years and a capacity of 400 tonnes/annum was P4.85 cavan.
25. Testing and Evaluation of Rice Hull-Fired Furnace for Grain Drying
Rice hulls have been widely used as a source of renewable energy, particularly for grain drying. However, more efficient methods of extracting maximum heat from rice hull should be developed. Present rice hull-fired furnaces being used for grain drying operate at very low thermal or furnace efficiency.
This project tested, evaluated and compared six locally manufactured rice hull fired furnaces used fro grain drying and came up with recommendation for modifications and improvement.
During the conduct of the study, the burning efficiency, furnace efficiency and operational characteristics, sensible heat utilization and drying system efficiency as well as the economic viability of the different furnaces was determined and evaluated.
The study revealed that horizontal grate and airsuspended types of furnace have the highest burning efficiencies of 99.12% and 98.61%, respectively. On the other hand, the combined vertical and inclined step grate furnace obtained the highest furnace efficiency of 71.39%, the lowest heat utilization of 2697 kilojoules per kg and the highest drying efficiency of 60.92%.
The flatbed dryer using the inclined step grate furnace is the most economically viable with a return on investment of 45.80%, payback period of 1.18 years and a break-even point of 154 tonnes.
Recommended for improvements were as follows:
26. Drying in Bulk Storage of High Moisture Grains in Tropical Climates
The In-Store drying technology, commonly called two-stage or combination drying is a technology, that originated in other countries and was verified by NAPHIRE for its possible suitability to local conditions. Specifically, this drying technology consists of a fast drying stage which could be achieved by the use of continuous flow driers, a batch dryer or a flash dryer. The grain would be dried rapidly to 18% M.C. This stage is followed by the final drying to be done in storage which is accomplished by moving ambient or supplementally heated air slowly through the grain bulk to bring the M.C. to 13.5-14%.
During field testing, a continuous flow dryer was used in the 1st stage drying and in the 2nd stage, existing NFA silos were modified and converted into instore dryers. These silos were equipped with rice hull fired-furnaces and perforated false floors to ensure uniform airflow.
About 123 tonnes of pre-dried paddy at 18% and 4.2 m grain depth was dried gently to about 12% in 13 days drying period without serious grain quality deterioration.
Combination drying has three advantages: a) flexibility in meeting drying requirement thus preventing backlogs during wet season harvest; b) lower energy cost required than conventional heated air drying; c) high quality aried grain produced.
27. Design and Development of Corn Crib for the Humid Tropics
Corn cribs are a common practice of storing/ drying freshly harvested ear corn by farmers who resort to this practice to: 1) allow the high moisture content level to dry by natural air to a level favorable for shelling and 2) for price speculation. Significant losses due to deterioration of corn stored in this manner is incurred becaus of unfavorable weather conditions for natural air drying. Hence, modification of the traditional crib is expedient to prevent or minimize these postharvest losses.
Project Highlights
Deterioration due to mold damage and germination was identifid as the primary problem besetting the traditional system of corn cribs practiced by Bukidnon farmers. It was found out that maize damage was due to the inability of the ambient air to effectively dry the ear maize since the relative humidity in the project site was not conducive for natural air drying. Furthermore, the huge volume of stored ear maize (10 tons minimum) inhibited the movement of ambient air through the bulk leading to deterioration especially those at the central portion. Only ear maize located at the periphery of the traditional corn crib experienced minimal drying since these were fully exposed to the ambient air.
Results obtained from the storage/drying trials of the developed corn crib system showed that deterioration due to mold damage and germination was minimized at any given depth of maize stock, initial moisture content and prevailing wind condition. Findings revealed that for the particular vortex wind machine design combined with supplemental heating could enhance drying in storage using an optimum depth of 2 feet corresponding to 5 tons ear maize capacity. Storage/drying experiment using the mentioned depth showed that freshly harvested ear maize with an initial moisture content of 26.7% w.b. and 20.42% w.b. after 7 days storage/drying in the improved and traditional cribs, respectively. Maize deterioration was observed only in samples stored in the traditional crib. Damage was found to be 7.07% deteriorated shelled maize. The aflatoxin content of maize samples (initial-2.75 ppb) was found to be 3.06 ppb for ear maize stored in the improved crib and 12.72 ppb in the traditional crib after 7 days storage.
Project Impact
Results indicated that the use of the developed corn crib system significantly prevent or minimize corn deterioration while in storage. With the improved corn crib system, farmers will be able to save 353.5 kilograms of shelled corn with an equivalent amount of P1.237.25 ($88.38 AUS) using the optimum depth of 2 feet. This saving will be a substantial addition to the income of the farmers. Furthermore, the adoption of this improved corn crib system will enable the farmers to wait favorable corn prices with minimum postharvest losses.
28. Development of an Improved Mobile Corn Sheller
Problem Statement:
About 20% of Philippine population depend on corn as staple food. Corn serve as a raw material for consumer products and also as principal ingredient for livestock feeds.
Prior to final drying, shelling is an indespensible process which should be undertaken" to maximize space and promote the easy handling of grains. Maize shelling if done manually is one of the most labor consuming process done manually is one of the most labor consuming process in corn postharvest handling. The existing maize shellers are normally large and heavy, require high power input, operate and produces low product quality in terms of percent kernel breakage and purity. Damage kernels are susceptible to insect and molds thereby increasing the incidence of aflatoxin contamination.
Thus, there is a need to develop a locally manufactured corn sheller that is highly mobile, with higher efficiency, better product quality and powered with small engine.
Highlights of the study:
1) Problems and deficiencies identified on existing corn shellers;
2) Improvements in the Design of the Improved Corn Sheller;
Techno-economic impact of the improved sheller:
1. An economic analysis using actual conditions of strategic corn producing viability of the sheller. It was found to be economically viable under Isabela and Mindanao situation. A sensitivity test was also prepared using decreased annual rate of utilization. Result showed promising return with an average payback period of 1.8 years.
2. Taking into consideration the decrease in the percent unshelled loss from 0.74% to 0.13%, an economic saving of around 3,200 tons with estimated value of P 9.6 M (US$0.48 M) annually of corn produced if the improved sheller would be substituted in use for the existing sheller.
3. The improvement in quality of the shelled grain and the reduction of kernel damage would reduce the level of aflatoxin
29. Study on the Physics of Bulk Storage of Paddy Rationale and Objectives:
This study therefore seeks to investigate the effect of the physical factors of storage on the quantity arid quality loss of paddy stored in bulk in order to establish the technical requirements and the operational management systems for the successful use of bulk storage facilities in the Philippines.
Status:
a. Completion of silo set-up. The silo set-up composed of two-90 ton capacity silos, bagging bin, and grain conveying equipment was completed. The electrical system that will operate the conveying equipment and aeration fan was installed. The conveying equipment and the aeration fan were test operated and found to be working satisfactorily.
b. Weather data analysis. Analysis of weather data for Munoz, Nueva Ecija, shows that the best time to conduct aeration is in the early morning or early evening of the day at the time when air water vapor content and enthalpy are at their lowest. A computer is being used to facilitate weather analysis.
c. Silo instrumentation. Temperatures, moisture condensation, and grain moisture sensors and meters are to be installed inside the silos. Installation of all these equipment will be made on the first quarter of 1988 upon the arrival of the grain moisture sensors and meters.
d. Paddy stocks. The 180 tons of experimental paddy stocks to be used shall be obtained from NFA. These will be treated with insecticide admixture during loading into the silos.
30. Drying of High Moisture Grains in the Humid Tropics
The general objective is to continue the development of techniques for drying paddy, maize and groundnut adaptable for the humid tropics.
Specifically, the objectives are:
a. To investigate short term quality maintenance of wet paddy in the period between harvest and drying with particular reference to cooling in transit and after receival into handling complexes.
b. To study mill-level drying strategies for paddy based on rice hull conbustors.
c. To investigate first stage drying option in areas where a two-stage drying strategy is required.
d. To study the effect of the various aeration, coiling, and drying strategies on the quality of maize, peanuts and other grains and legumes.
Initial work is being done on the determination of physical properties for maize and peanut such as bulk density, equilibrium moisture content, drying rate, etc. Also, thin layer drying is also being done to establish drying parameters for maize and groundnut. Data to be gathered will be used in simulation studies to destablish drying strategies for these commodities.
31. Control of Aflatoxin in Maize Technology Performance Verification
The whole project aims to control aflatoxin contamination in maize through the development and application of appropriate post-production practices and facilities.
Initial results indicated that minimum damage in shelling is obtained at 17% M.C. of ear corn. Shelling above and below this MC level increases grain damage. Storing shelled corn above 24% also produces high percentage of discolored and moldy grain after 15 days of storage. Storing grain at 14% is safer with 1.8% discolored grain.
Furthermore, amount of discoloration can be minimized if aeration of the bagged grain is provided.
An inventory of postharvest equipment being used in the areas was also conducted as a requirement for further performance evaluation. The evaluation is necessary to establish capacities, efficiencies, etc., which will be used as basis for matching postharvest requirement of a given postharvest system. The project commenced in February 1987 and is sponsored by International Research Development Centre (IDRC).
32. Groundnut Industry: Engineering Aspects
The engineering aspect of the project covers the development of an indigeneous seed processing and storage technology that will meet the needs of small farmer.
Preliminary activities involved extensive literature search to gather groundnut baseline information. This is followed by laboratory work on equilibrium moisture content determination of two groundnut varieties, UPLPn2 and BPI-P9. The physical properties of these two varieties were likewise determined while thin layer drying experiment is in progress. These were done to gather data to be used for the actual design of the storage facilities. The project has a 3-year. duration. It started on October 1,1987 sponsored by IDRC.
TRAINING AND EXTENSION DEPARTMENT
Under this program, NAPHIRE is conducting the following activities:
1. Under the project '`University Training on Grain Post Harvest Technology" funded by EEC. NAPHIRE strengthens the role of agricultural schools and research institutions in meeting the manpower and facility needs of the industry. Post harvest equipment, training and consultancy services are provided to the project beneficiaries.
2. Coordinated in-country projects/programs planning of different institutions concerned with postharvest operations.
3. Offered consultancy services (to a limited extent) to the different sectors of the post harvest industry.
4. Establish linkages with other institutions here and abroad for better coordination of activities.
NEW PROJECTS
A. FOOD PROTECTION DEPARTMENT (FPD):
1. Development of an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) System for National Food Authority (NFA) and Private Mill Warehouses
Practical experiences and logic clearly indicates that more efficient control measures necessitates the integration of different control procedures by utilizing all available techniques into a single cohesive strategy aimed at controlling pest infestation.
Objective:
To evaluate and test a system of Integrated Pest Management Programme (IPM) for NFA and private mill-house operations with the end view or reducing losses due to insect infestation.
Specific:
1. To evaluate the effectiveness of different pest control strategies for the control of insect pest in storage.
2. To develop an IPM which will focus on the prevention of pest infestation from procurement point to distribution.
3. To pilot test the suitability of developed IPM system in NFA warehouses and private mill warehouses.
2. Establishment of efficient Methods for the Prevention and Control of the Khapra Beetle, Trogoderma Granarium (Everts)
Relevance:
Trogoderma granarium (E) is a very serious pest of stored grains. Importing countries have imposed strict bans on any importations that are likely to be infested with T. granarium from countries where this species is endemic.
The biology and ecology of T. granarium has been exhaustively researched in other parts of the world where it is considered endemic, but information on an integrated cost-effective control strategy is lacking.
Objective:
To establish efficient methods for the prevention and control of the khapra beetle. T. granarium through improved quarantine procedures, policy implementation and effective treatments.
Specific:
1. To establish a nationwide profile of the occurence and distribution of T. granarium.
2. To identify strains that have developed resistance to currently used pesticides and fumigants.
3. To critically identify the constraints in implementing an effective quarantine campaign both in imported stocks and in transfer of stocks nationwide known to be infested in order to isolate and curtail its continued spread.
4. To identify/develop the most appropriate method of control.
5. To develop rapid and convenient detection methods for both early and hidden infestation.
3. Development of a Diagnostic Capability for the Control of Aflatoxin Contamination in Maize
Relevance:
Mycotoxin contamination of maize has long been recognized as a problem having far-reaching and detrimental effects on human and animal health and productivity, and with serious trade and economic repurcussions.
Plaque by such problem, the search for methods to remove or control aflatoxin in contaminated commodities has become imperative. However, monitoring labaratories to handle detection and analytical work have been lacking.
Objective:
1. To establish a centralized and regional laboratory facilities to monitor aflatoxin contamination.
2. To study methods of control once laboratory capability has been established.
4 Establishment of a Workable Grades and Standard of Aflatoxin for Maize
Relevance:
The existing grading practices for grains and related agricultural food and feed commodities both on farmers and traders level do not consider mycotoxin content as a quality factor. This nonexistence of established grades and standards of aflatoxin contamination have contributed to outright disregard by farmers/traders to consider preventive and control measures for mycotoxin contamination in their production and post production activities as no additional benefits are derived from their efforts.
The need to safeguard the health and safety of the public and the livestock as well, underscores the importance of pursuing the development and enforcement of grades and standards on aflatioxin for food and feeds.
Objective:
1. To develop grades and standards for maize on the permissible levels of aflatoxin contamination.
2. To develop a workable grading system for maize for field procurement.
3. To come up with a suitable pricing for the developed grades and standard.
5. Determination of Early and Hidden Insect Pest Infestation in Storage
Objectives:
1. To develop rapid and reliable means of detecting early and hidden insect infestation.
2. To use the early pest levels to predict future infestation and damage.
B. POSTHARVEST SYSTEM ANALYSIS AN D DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
1. Pilot Testing of and Improved Maize Crib in the Humid Tropics
Relevance:
NAPHIRE has developed an improved Maize crib which has been technically proven to be more effective than the traditional corn crib. Equipped with a vortex wind machine and rice hull fired furnace, the improved Maize crib was able to dry 5-ton of freshly harvested ear maize from an initial m.c. of 26.7% to 16.64% m.c. after 7 days of storage/drying without so much sign of deterioration. Its economic viability and social acceptability was not yet verified through this proposed project.
Objectives:
General:
To determine the economic viability and social acceptability of the improved prototype maize crib in the humid tropics.
Specific:
1. To modify the improved maize into a low cost facility using indigeneous materials.
2. To compare the cost and benefits of using the improved maize crib against the existing maize crib.
3. To identify the various socio-economic factors that influence the utilization of the maize crib.
4. To identify the most viable system in using the improved maize crib under actual field condition.
2. Systems Study on the Socio-Economics of Paddy Bulk Handling for National Food Authority (NFA) Operations
Objective:
To develop a viable scheme for the adoption of paddy bulk handling system for NFA operation.
Specific:
1. To conduct a system study of the present handling and storage practices and management of the NFA operation.
2. To determine the economic feasibility of adopting bulk handling and storage techniques and management to the systems.
3. To develop policy recommendation for the eventual adoption of bulk handling techniques.
3. Adoption and Utilization of the NAPHIRE Improved Corn Sheller (NICS) in Selected Areas in the Philippines
Objective:
To promote a viable industry through an effective and efficient maize shelling operation.
Specific:
1. To enhance the awareness among maize farmers, producers and traders of the benefits from using the NAPHIRE Improved Corn Sheller.
2. To provide target-end-users with the necessary skills in operating the sheller.
3. To determine the rate of utilization of the sheller in the project area.
4. To determine the socio-economic impact of the adoption of the technology.
5. To identify the constraints and formulate possible solution to the adoption of the technology.
4. Establishment of Village Type Grain Processing Centers
Objective:
1. To determine the postharvest technologies which are technically feasible, economically viable and socially acceptable for farmer's cooperative at the rural village level.
2. To develop design consideration, standards and schemes in an integrated postharvest system at the on and off farm levels.
3. To evaluate the viability of a pilot farmers cooperative-based enterprise engaged in the processing and marketing of grains.
4. To evolve appropriate extension strategies and relevant policy guidelines as a basis for the wider implementation of the program.
C. FACILITIES PROCESSES DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
1. Design and Development of Mobile Farm Flash Dryers
Mechanical dryers are available but farmers cannot own a dryer even how inexpensive the unit is. They have other pressing priorities for any meager cash they have.
Past experience dictate that custom-drying using mechanical dryers, can be an area which farmers can explore in the same way as what happened with customthreshing and custom harvesting
Objectives:
The development of farm flash drying equipment and strategy to be made available to farmers by small entrepreneurs through custom drying services so they can increase their level of income.
D. TRAINING AND EXTENSION DEPARTMENT
In order that NAPHIRE's activities will meet the critical and specific needs of the grain industry, postharvest research and training is to interlock with production and marketing operations and on an integrated basis from harvesting, threshing, drying, storage, processing and handling/distribution. As such, aside from the regular research and training facilities and equipment required, it would be necessary to establish a pilot scale integrated grain processing plant with adequate structures to store both the material requirement of the plant and experimental stocks for research and training purposes. The pilot plant will ensure that technologies and recommendations are first validated under typical commercial conditions prior to extension.
Objective:
To develop and strengthen the research and training capabilities of NAPHIRE.
Specific:
1. To provide technical assistance in the preparation and formulation of specific plans/designs to upgrade the capabilities of NAPHIRE.
2. To train key NAPHIRE staff in the areas of project management and postharvest operations.
3. To construct research and training facilities and other related infrastructures to ensure the smooth conduct of the Instituties operations.
4. To supply the needed research and training equipment and capital outlay to enable the Institute to adequately respond to the needs of the grains postharvest industry.