Mechanized Postharvest System Preserves Seed Quality
The Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) found in a study that using a mechanized harvesting, handling, and drying system in breeder seed production lessens labor and risk of seed contamination.
Led by Engr. Ricardo Orge, the researchers harvested, threshed and bagged breeder seeds in special jute sacks using mini-combine, a machine designed by PhilRice with harvesting, reaping and threshing functions. Then they transported the filled sacks to the drying area with a trailer and dried the seeds while inside the sacks.
“[In this mechanized postharvest system,] it would only take 9-10 hours from harvesting up to the time the seeds are dried to final moisture content of 12 percent. [But in the conventional method], it would take 27 hours per hectare,” says Engr. John Eric Abon who is one of the proponents of the study.