Impressed with the results of the Location Specific Technology Development (LSTD) project at Brgy. Bubulong Malaki, San Ildefonso, Bulacan, Rep. Lorna C. Silverio of the province’s 3rd district, will fund the purchase of a Maligaya flatbed dryer to be used by the rice farmers in the area.

“Napabilib ang aming congresswoman sa magandang programang hatid ninyo…at sa husay ng bumubuo ng LSTD [team] (Our congresswoman was impressed with your good program…and with the competence of the LSTD team),” Brgy. Captain Reynaldo G. Victoria narrated in his letter to PhilRice executive director, Atty. Ronilo A. Beronio. 

Based on the area’s baseline survey, farmers at Brgy. Bubulong Malaki only get an average yield of 3.8 t/ha. However, the average yield could still be increased, as the PalayCheck field trial demonstrates a yield difference of 29 percent over farmers’ practice.

Data gathered from the rice sufficiency officers also reveal an 11 percent increase in yield across Bulacan sites, which also include Plaridel and San Miguel.  Meanwhile, results of the nutrient management trials in San Ildefonso show a yield advantage of 14 percent when the minus-one element technique and leaf color chart were applied and used.  

“[Dahil din sa programa, nakita ng aming congresswoman] ang kakulangan ng maayos na bilaran ng palay lalo na kapag tag-ulan [nung dumalo siya sa field day ng LSTD] at nabuksan ang kanyang isipan na magkaloob ng halaga para magpagawa ng flatbed dryer para sa aming barangay (In one of the LSTD field days, our congresswoman saw the need of a drying facility specially on rainy days. The field day opened her mind to provide us with a flatbed dryer),” Victoria said.

Officials in the LSTD site already requested PhilRice to handle the fabrication of Maligaya flatbed dryer.

“Once all terms are set, PhilRice would start fabricating the machine. PhilRice could provide the blueprint of the bin. As for the blower and furnace, this could be assembled at the Rice Engineering and Mechanization Center or any accredited manufacturer,” said Engr. Eden Gagelonia, head of the Rice Engineering and Mechanization Division.

The Maligaya flatbed dryer, developed by PhilRice in collaboration with the University of Agriculture and Forestry in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, can dry as much as 6 t (120 cav) of paddy rice in one operation through its rice hull biomass furnace. Moreover, the dryer removes moisture from the grain at 1.5-2.0 percent an hour.

Mechanical dryers such as the Maligaya flatbed dryer is used to ensure the good quality of harvested grains, reduce harvesting losses and dependence on weather conditions for harvest, and to allow more time for postharvest field work.