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Adoption of Participatory Drying Technology in North West Bangladesh

S. M. M. Rahman
Principal Scientific Officer
Farm Machinery and Post Harvest Technology Division, BRRI, Gazipur-1701

B. K. Bala
Professor
Department of Farm Power and Machinery, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202

M. M. Haque
Adviosr
RDRS, Dhap, Rangpur 5400.

G. Mowla
Principal Scientific Officer
Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, Gagipur.

M. Y. Miah
Assistant Professor
BSMR Agricultural University, Gazipur 1706.

Kamrul Hassan
Assistant Professor
East West University, Dhaka 1212.

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The farmers' participatory alternative drying technology of Vietnamese Flat Bed and STRI dryers' adoption project was undertaken by RDRS and GKF in North West Bangladesh in May 2002, 18 and 10 demonstrations for Flat Bed and STR 1 dryer respectively were conducted in the project area. All together about 81 ton of parboiled and unparboiled rice were dried by 70 beneficiaries using these dryers. Awareness on the use of dryers was increased among the potential farmers and millers. The rice milling recovery of dried paddy using these dryers was found from 70 to 73% for BR14 and BRRI dhan28 for both the dryers. The rice husk was found to be the cheapest as Tk. 9.0 followed by conventional fire wood (Tk. 13.4) and briquette (Tk. 15.4) for drying 40 kg of paddy. STR 1 dryer found more suitable for small farmers and millers. This dryer was also adopted in pulse mill for drying black gram. Carrying cost of grain can be avoided by this dryer as it is portable. Larger farmer and medium miller can use flat bed dryer.

Keywords: Adoption of Participatory, Drying Technology, Seed quality

Location: Rangpur, Kurigram, Panchagar, Thakurgaon, Nilphamari

Start Date: 00-00-0002

End Date: 00-05-0002

Program Area: Postharvest and Agro-processing

Non-commodity: Adoption of technology, Adoption and mitigation technology

Objectives:

To find out alternative, suitable and effective drying technology with an expectation of major breakthrough in solving drying problem in North West Bangladesh by reducing post harvest loss and producing quality seed, grain and its end products.

Methodology:

The STR 1 dryer consists of one stove, two bins, one suction pipe and an electric blower. Axial-flow type fan was used which was driven by one hp electric motor. Drying bin was made of bamboo mat and its capacity was about 600 kg. The cylindrical stove was made of MIS sheet and clay. The STR 1 dryer was installed under the shed of plain floor to protect it from the rain. The inner and outer bin was set up on a jute or plastic mat to avoid moisture migration from the floor. The blower was set to supply heated air inside the inner bin as such that there was no gap between them. Afterwards suction pipe was coupled into the blower inlet. Biomass stove was kept under the suction pipe. The space between the inner and outer bin was adjusted in such a way that the entire grain could be filled around the bin uniformly up to connector level. After feeding the stove with biomass such as briquette, coal or wood etc, the stove was ignited. The switch of the blower was put on when the biomass started burning. Grain temperature and stove were monitored time to time during the whole drying process. The capacity of flat bed dryer was about 4 tons per batch. The furnace was made of clay, brick and MIS sheet for supplying hot air. The flat bed and the tunnel were made of brick work. The surface of the flat bed was covered with perforated MIS sheet on the wooden frame. Engine and blower was coupled near the furnace to supply hot air into the tunnel. Biomass such as rice husk, briquette, wood, char coal, coal, etc. was used in the stove. It should be dust free. Otherwise, it would contaminate the grain by entering into the seed kernel. Data on fuel consumption were recorded during drying operation. Grain temperature (DC) and relative humidity (%) were recorded and monitored by thermocouple, through dial temperature reader and Hobo data logger respectively. Grains were cleaned before drying. Farmers and millers dried different kinds of rice, black gram. Among them BRRI developed rice varieties were BR 1, BR 11, BR 14, BRRIdhan 28 and BRRIdhan 29. The moisture content of the grain was determined by the Kett moisture meter in percent (wet basis). But the rural farmer tested their grain by teeth, foot, palm of the hand etc. Selection of farmer, miller and site Farmers and millers who were willing to pay 40% cost of the dryer were selected randomly in different districts such as Rangpur, Kurigram, Panchagar, Thakurgaon, Nilphamari of North West Bangladesh by RDRS. GKF installed a flat bed dryer in their seed processing Centre in Rangpur where they used for themselves and demonstrated for other potential users. The adoption decision of a person or a decision-making unit occurs through engagement of persuasion through demonstration. Demonstrations were arranged for the selected farmers at the selected sites to have practical experience through observation and participation in drying operation of STR 1 and Flat Bed dryers.

Source of Information: JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING, Vol-36/AE, pp. 29-36, JUNE 2009, ISSN:0379-4318.

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Flat Bed and STR 1 dryers were introduced in Bangladesh. Mass awareness was developed on the usefulness of dryers. The demonstration and extension by RDRS and GKF demonstrated the potentiality of the STR 1 and Flat Bed dryer in Bangladesh for reducing post harvest loss and production of quality dried farm produce.

Knowledge Management: Journal