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Rice Post-harvest Practices and Loss Estimates in Bangladesh: Threshing Through Sundrying

A.K.M. Anwarul Haque
Scientific Officer
Rice Technology Div., B.B.R.l., cazipur 1701, Bangladesh

N.H. Choudhury
Chief Scientific Officer and Head
Rice Technology Div., B.R.R.l., Gazipur 1701, Bangladesh

M.A. Quasem
Senior Scientific Officer
Agric. Engg. Div., B.R.H.l., Gazipur 1701, Bangladesh

Jose R. Arboleda
Project Manager
FAO/BRRI Project, AG: GCPP/BGD/o17/NET,Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The objective of the study was to observe rice post-harvest practices and estimate losses occurring in the country from threshing to sun drying operations. The post harvest practices studied were threshing by hand beating, ox-treading, use of pedal threshers, hand beating followed by ox-treading; cleaning of threshed paddy by winnowing basket 'Kula' and sun drying of unprovided paddy on packed ground, bamboo mat, at courtyard and on road side. The total loss estimates from threshing through sun drying varied between 3.1 to 4.0% in three seasons studied with a weighted average of 3.5%. This was equivalent to 0.7 million t actual paddy loss. The 'Aus' season observed highest loss while 'Boro' season had the least. Loss in threshing and winnowing operation did not exceed l.0% except in hand beating with 1.6% weighted loss. Threshing by hand beating followed by ox-treading and pedal thresher experienced similar loss but the former method was more time consuming. Drying loss estimate was high (2.27), which was probably due to encroaching and eating by domestic animals and birds and small quantity of paddy dried by the farmers.

Keywords: Ox-treading, Postiarvest Practices, Pedal Thresher

Location: Rice Technology Div., BRRI

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Postharvest and Agro-processing

Commodity: Performance evaluation

Objectives:

To observe and gather information on existing post harvest operations (threshing, cleaning and drying) at village level
To estimate the size and causes of losses occurring in the country and
To suggest methods of reducing these losses.

Methodology:

The post harvest operations commonly practiced by the farmers at the village level in Bangladesh. Threshing is the removal or separation of grains from the panicles of the paddy stalks. Hand beating; ox-treading; combination of both; and use of pedal threshers are the most common methods of threshing. Foot trading is sometimes practiced in some areas. Cleaning is done to separate foreign materials like leaves, straw, empty grains, etc., from threshed grains. This is done by using 'kula', an oval-shaped bamboo woven winnowing basket with elevated sides to hold the grain except at one end where materials are discharged during its use. Drying is a thermodynamic process wherein moisture is removed from the material by vapour pressure differences between grain and the ambient air. It is also accomplished with evaporative cooling action. A total of 35 villages from five areas were selected for the loss assessment study conducted during 1983 'Aman', and 1984 'Boro' and 'Aus' harvest seasons. The selection was based on accessibility, cooperation of the farmers and representativeness of the village in the cropping pattern and post haryest practices in the district. Loss assessment in threshing was done on a measured 50m²(5 x 10) area which was harvested by using sickle, bundled, transported and threshed to get the grain weight as obtained yield. Yards were cleaned before threshing harvested stalks. Paddy cleaning, commonly done by using 'Kula' either by wind breeze or fanning, was studied. Unearthed filled grains mixed with chaffs and straws, and remaining grains scattered in the cleaning area w€re collected as cleaning loss.

Source of Information: VOL.22 NO.l 1991, AGRICULTURAL MECHANIZATION IN ASIA, AFRICA AND LATIN AMERICA

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Total loss estimates in threshing cleaning and sun drying operators were 3.58%, 3.10% and 4.0lVo for 'Aman'. 'Boro', and 'Aus' seasons, respectively, with a weighted average of 3.5%. In terms of actual grain loss, this was equivalent to 0.7 million t of paddy for three seasons, calculated from the estimated production of 20.1 million t. Low loss estimates (less than 0.67a) in threshing by pedal thresher was comparable to hand-beating followed by ox-treading. Hand beating incurred more than 1.5% loss. Although loss variations were observed in other post-harvest operations, the loss estimates were less than 1% indicating the general awareness of farmers in minimizing loss during threshing and cleaning operations studied was insignificant. This result implies that large domestic animal and birds encroaching and eating and small quantity of paddy dried by the farmers. It is recommended that increased food availability in the post-haflest sector can be achieved if the government could provide the necessary inputs, training and incentives for the farmers to plant HYVs because it will not only increase yield but also reduce post harvest loss. The manufacture and use of pedal threshers must be encouraged through financial support and information dissemination because this will not only maintain low threshing loss but also provide

Knowledge Management: Journal