Project Progress Report:" Investigation of rice kernel cracking and its control in the field and during post-harvest processes in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam - MS12 " pot

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Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development

Project Progress Report


026/05VIE
Investigation of rice kernel cracking and its control in the field
and during post-harvest processes in the Mekong Delta of
Vietnam



MS12
: VALIDATION OF IMPROVED HARVESTING, DRYING AND MILLING
METHODS




Cooperative demonstrations detailing the physical and financial benefits of implementation
of optimal harvest methods, optimal drying conditions and improved performance of milling
plants.
(Output 31. and 3.2)



July 2009

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NONG LAM UNIVERSITY


Table of Contents

1.
 Institute Information__________________________________________________ 1
2. Project abstract ______________________________________________________ 2
3. Executive summary ___________________________________________________ 2
4. Demonstration of benefit of harvesting practices ___________________________ 3
5. Demonstration of benefits of flat bed and fluidised bed drying:_______________ 4
6. Milling experiments to demonstrate the benefit of roller milling as against stone
milling___________________________________________________________________ 5

7. Survey results________________________________________________________ 6
7.1 Harvesting time__________________________________________________________ 7
7.2 Harvesting methods ______________________________________________________ 7
7.3 Rice drying______________________________________________________________ 7
7.4 Training program and extension activities ___________________________________ 8
7.5 Cooperatives ____________________________________________________________ 9
7.6 The impact of this project to smallholder farmers ____________________________ 10
8. Training activities ___________________________________________________ 10
8.1 Training of farmers _____________________________________________________ 10
8.2 Study tours for farmers and service providers _______________________________ 14
8.3 Demonstrations _________________________________________________________ 15

8.4 Mill installation and training of mill owners/operators ________________________ 17
9. Physical and Financial Benefits ________________________________________ 20
9.1 Integrated data on harvest and post-harvest losses of rice and information on the use
of harvesters and dryers ________________________________________________________ 21
9.2 Assessment of benefits gained by Tan Phat A cooperative region. _______________ 24
9.3 Benefits from improvement of harvesting methods:___________________________ 24
9.4 Benefits from improvement of drying methods: ______________________________ 26
9.5 Summary on the benefits gained by Tan Phat A cooperative from the project_____ 28
9.6 Assessment of overall benefits to a province or MRD _________________________ 31
10. Conclusion _________________________________________________________ 32
11. Appendix___________________________________________________________ 33

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1. Institute Information
Project Name
Investigation of rice kernel cracking and its control
in the field and during post-harvest processes in the
Mekong Delta of Vietnam
Vietnamese Institution
Nong Lam University HCMC
Vietnamese Project Team Leader
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vinh Truong
Australian Organisation The University of Queensland
Australian Personnel
Professor Bhesh Bhandari
Professor Shu Fukai
Date commenced
April 2006
Completion date (original)
March 2009

Completion date (revised)
April 2009
Reporting period
6 months

Contact Officer(s)
In Australia: Team Leader
Name: Bhesh Bhandari

Telephone: +61733469192
Position: Professor

Fax:+61733651177
Organisation: The University of Queensland
Email:

In Australia: Administrative contact
Name: Mr Kerry Johnston

Telephone: +61 7 3365 7493
Position: Research support officer

Fax: +61 7 33658383
Organisation: The University of Queensland
Email:

In Vietnam
Name: Vinh Truong
Telephone: 84-8-37242527
Position: Head, Department of Chemical Engineering

Fax: 84-8-37245030
Organisation: Nong Lam University
Email:



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2. Project abstract

3. Executive summary
This report presents the validation of improved harvesting, drying and milling methods
since the project started in 2006. The deliverables of the project are cooperative
demonstrations detailing the physical and financial benefits of implementation of
optimal harvest methods, optimal drying conditions and improved performance of
milling plants addressing the outputs 31. and 3.2 (logframe reference) as explained in
the original proposal.
During the last three years, this CARD project has carried out abundant activities to enhance
harvesting, drying and milling methods by both strengthening the knowledge of smallholder
farmers and demonstrating the methods of implementation of optimal harvesting, drying and
milling practices. At first, the data collection was carried out in terms of milling losses in
various milling plants. Experimental works were then undertaken to test the hypothesis of
rice cracking during harvest and post-harvest periods and to find out the optimal harvesting
time, harvesting methods, drying conditions and milling performance. The systematically
data collection and experimental results were prepared in the forms of training manuals and
leaflets and distributed to stakeholders, particularly smallholder farmers via training
workshops and study tours. To date (since the project commencement) 2312 farmers and 300
extension workers participated in the training. Demonstrations were also performed to
stakeholders through equipment such as reapers, combined harvesters and driers provided by
this CARD project. According to the results obtained from the farmers’ survey carried out in
March 2009, the integrated approach implemented in this project improved the awareness of

farming practices of smallholder farmers.
Reduced whole rice grain yield due to cracking is one of the major issues that directly
reduce income and availability of staple food to the farmers in the Mekong River Delta.
The cracking or partial fissuring of rice kernels may occur right in the paddy field due to
incorrect harvesting time/practice, improper post-harvest drying conditions and
inappropriate milling operations. This project aims to improve the quality and value of the
rice, through an integrated approach which encompasses farmers, millers, service
providers and extension workers and education institution. A key objective of this project
is to improve the knowledge of smallholder farmers by organizing workshops and
demonstration for farmer cooperatives in the region so that appropriate harvesting and
subsequent grain handling techniques are observed to improve rice grain quality.
Similarly there will be demonstration and workshops for small millers to encourage them
to install driers and/or provide them technical knowledge to practice optimum drying
conditions. Improvement of the capacity of the extension workers by providing updated
knowledge is another objective. The theory of grain drying will be advanced that would
improve designs of future dryers. The education institutions involved in the project will
work together for capacity building of their staff members in the Nong Lam University.

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The data of milling losses in two provinces Tien Giang and Kien Giang were collected in
2007. To evaluate the current milling performance and investigate a new approach for better
milling performance, two milling experiments were undertaken in Can Tho University (Aug
2008) and Kien Giang province (March 2009). A rice milling workshop was also
successfully organised in Tan Hiep district, Kien Giang province to make local authorities,
service providers, millers, extension workers and farmers’ representatives aware of using
appropriate milling technology.

The estimation of physical and financial benefits of this project showed that Tan Phat A
cooperative will gain USD 50,326 every year from the improvement of harvesting and drying

practices without further installation of the equipments. If the benefits from service of
harvesting and drying are included, the cooperative will gain USD 125,826 every year. Under
the circumstances if the advanced system is applied to MRD in rice production, i.e. correct
harvesting, combined-harvesting cutting, mechanical drying, milling using modified
dehusker, MRD may reduce 13% total losses which are equivalent to USD 190 million per
annum .

4. Demonstration of benefit of harvesting practices
Timely harvesting plays an important role in controlling rice cracking. Reduced whole rice
grain yield due to cracking causes the value loss and reduces the farmers’ income. Field
experiments were carried out to study the effect of harvesting time around crop maturity on
rice cracking and head rice yield for seven common rice varieties (OM1490, OM2718,
OM2517, OM4498, AG24, IR50404 and Jasmine) in three different locations, namely Seed
Centre (An Giang Province), Tan Phat A Cooperative (Kien Giang Province) and Tan Thoi 1
Cooperative (Can Tho City) in four consecutive harvesting seasons during two years (2006-
2008). The results showed that the rice cracking was strongly influenced by both the variety
and time of harvesting around maturity. There was a general trend of increase in percentage
of cracked rice with late harvesting in relation to estimated grain maturity date. The head rice
yield also followed the same trend in response to delayed harvesting. A delay of 4-6 days
reduced the head rice yield by 11.3 % an average and up to 50 %. Similar trends were
observed in both wet and dry seasons. The large varietal difference in percentage of cracked
grain (0.9 to 60.5%) on 6 days after maturity date indicated that the level of rice cracking
caused by late harvesting time can be minimized by the selection of suitable varieties. The
detailed report about effects of harvesting time around grain maturity on rice cracking and
head rice yield in MRD is presented in Appendix 1.
Consecutive field experiments showed that a few days early harvesting (before maturity) is
better than late harvesting by 4 to 6 days because late harvesting will make the grain more
sensitive to cracking. The unavailability of harvesting machines or the shortage of harvesting
labours will make the situation more severe because any delay or longer harvesting time can
cause more losses, as is often the case of harvesting by hand. Therefore, using appropriate

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harvesting methods such as combine-harvesters to prevent late harvesting is necessary. In
addition to prevent grain losses caused by late harvesting, mechanization of harvesting
methods using combine-harvesters can reduce 1.5% grain losses owing to threshing is not
applicable after mechanical harvesting.
5. Demonstration of benefits of flat bed and fluidised bed
drying:
Rice drying became an issue in Mekong Delta in early 1980’s when a second crop was
promoted, of which the harvest fell into the rainy season. Mechanical drying not only reduces
grain losses caused by germination and spoilage but also be an utmost intervention
opportunity to minimize rice grain cracking after drying or during milling stage. The project
activities carried out rice drying experiments in both actual and laboratory conditions in order
to improve drying efficiency and promote the mechanical drying, i.e. flat-bed and fluidised
bed rice drying.

The study, including experiments and survey on the flat-bed dryer, focused on the cracking
of paddy grains, and on comparing the air reversal mode. Results showed that, in both the 8-
ton production-scale dryer and the 20-kg laboratory dryer, the effect of air reversal was very
apparent in reducing the final moisture differential; however, its effect on the drying time or
the drying rate was not statistically significant. Mechanical drying, whether with or without
air reversal, was superior to sun drying in terms of reducing rice crack. However, compared
to shade control drying, drying (with or without air reversal) did decrease the head rice
recovery and increase the crack. The decrease in head rice recovery was inconsistent, slightly
lower or higher in each specific pair of experiments with and without air reversal; this was
not expected in line with data on the final moisture differential. Testing of a 4-ton dryer at
Long-An equipped with the solar collector as supplementary heat source resulted with good
grain quality and confirmed the good economic potential.

The actual drying time involved with the use of flat bed driers ranges from 8-10 h for wet

paddy, if farmers want to reduce the grain moisture content to a safe level (14% wet basis). If
the paddy needs to be dried to 15-16% moisture, the fluidized bed drying system can be used
as a compact drier. In this project, Response Surface Method (RSM) experiment for optimum
drying condition was determined in terms of HRY using a high temperature fluidised bed
dryer. The drying air temperature and time in the first pass of RSM experiments (75-87
o
C
and 2.5 mins) were used effectively to determine the drying rate and HRY. At optimum
condition, the head rice yield (HRY) was found almost similar to the controlled sample.
However, sensory experiment showed that the whiteness of optimum sample was lower than
that of the controlled sample. This reduced the sensory score of the optimum sample.
Statistical analysis also indicated that first drying pass affected remarkably on the colour of
the samples. The detailed methodology, brief results and discussion of this experiment are
presented in the Appendix 2.


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6. Milling experiments to demonstrate the benefit of roller
milling as against stone milling
Due to the current post-harvest system in the Mekong River Delta the mechanical drying can
cover only 30% of the total wet paddy. Most of the rice is processed by sun drying. In
addition, the price of paddy between 14% and 17-18% moisture is not differentiated clearly
by the traders. Thus, the farmers prefer to sun-dry the paddy to final moisture content of 17-
18%. A large amount of high moisture paddy (17-18%) is demanded for milling. Thus, the
milling operators have used the stone-dehusker for husking of paddy to suit this high
moisture content paddy. This system has reduced HRY and needed to be investigated.

Two milling experiments were undertaken using medium and large capacities of milling
plants (1-ton/hour and 7-ton/hour, respectively). The main purposes of milling experiment
were (i) to evaluate the current milling performance and find out a new approach for better

milling performance; (ii) to propose a strategy how to upgrade from current milling system to
a better performance system with less investment; (iii) to propose an integrated rice
management model from harvesting to milling for a better rice quality and higher farmers’
income.

The first milling experiment was carried out with 1-ton milling system (RS10P – SINCO) at
Can Tho province. The purpose of this experiment was to determine the effect of paddy
moisture content on the HRY while using rubber-roll dehusker. The paddy variety was
OM1490 and paddy samples with three moisture levels (14, 15 and 16%) were compared. It
was found that HRY was not significantly different between 14% and 15% paddy moisture
contents. However, when the moisture content of paddy increased to 16%, the HRY reduced
significantly from 46.7% to 37%. This reduction is quite high and implies the importance of
moisture content level regarding milling performance. The complete result is submitted in
MS11 report.

The second experiment was carried out with 7-ton milling system for two varieties (OM6561
and IR50404) at two moisture levels (14% and 17-18%) using two milling techniques, i.e.,
stone and rubber roll dehusking. Currently, in MRD, in a milling system, 70% and 30% of
paddy are processed by stone and rubber roll dehusking, respectively. The modified milling
technique processes 0-30% and 70-100% of paddy by stone and rubber roll dehusking,
respectively. In this experiment, the modified milling system with 30% husking by stone
dehusker and 70% husking by rubber-roll dehusker is called modified 70% rubber-roll
dehusker and denoted by M70RD. Similarly, the modified system with 100% rubber-roll
husking is denoted by M100RD. The traditional system is therefore denoted by M30RD
(only 30% of paddy processed by rubber-roll dehusker). The Hung Loi milling plant at Tan
Hiep district, Kien Giang province was used for this experiment.

In this experiment, the following results were obtained:

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A. First experiment (March 2009):
1) For moisture content of paddy of 17-18%, the recovery of rice containing 15%
broken rice (it is called “rice grade 15”) for M70RD system was 2.44% higher than
that from M30RD system.
2) For the same M70RD system, the recovery of (rice grade 15) was 3.25% higher at
14.5% moisture than at 17-18% moisture.
The above results indicated that M70RD system for rice moisture of 14% improved the HRY
of the rice.
B. Second experiment (August 2009):
The results of this experiment are shown in following Table 1.
Table 1. Total recovery and head rice yield (HRY)
No

Brown rice White rice
1 2
1 70 % CD + 30% CS (sun drying) (M30RD) 82,66% 40,71%
2 30 % CD + 70% CS (sun drying) (M70RD) 84,53% 35,89%
3 30 % CD + 70% CS (Dryer) (M70RD) 86,43% 53,36%
4 70 % CD + 30% CS (Dryer) (M30RD) 85,00% 49,28%
CD: stone dehusker; CS: rubber-roll dehusker

Results showed that:
+ For sun drying rice (moisture = 17%): HRY of 70% stone dehusker (M30RD) was
higher than that of 30% stone dehusker (40,71% - 35,89%).
+ For mechanical drying rice (moisture = 14-15%): HRY of 70% stone dehusker
(M30RD) was lower than that of 30% stone dehusker ( 49,28% - 53,36%).
+ HRY of mechanical drying rice was higher than that of sun drying rice about 13-14%.
Therefore, dehusking using rubber roll will improve HRY only when the paddy is dried
correctly up to moisture content of 14-15%.

The Appendix 3 presents the technical report of these milling experiments.

7. Survey results
Farmer survey was carried out in Tan Phat A cooperative, Tan Hiep district, Kien Giang
province in early March 2009. The objective of this survey is to determine the likely impact
of CARD 026/VIE-05 since the project started in September 2006. Thirty-one specific
questions containing knowledge, attitude and practice questions were designed to address at
various aspects of the project activities in changes of KAS (Knowledge, Attitudes, Skills) of
System
Product

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smallholder farmers. A total number of respondents for the survey in dry season 2009 were
162 included CARD-trainees (41%, 66 out of total 162 respondents). The survey approach
was one-to-one interview. Survey results are listed as followings:

7.1 Harvesting time
Correct harvesting time is the first intervention opportunity in the field to reduce grain
loss after harvesting. Field experiments undertaken during CARD project implementation
period from 2006 to 2008 showed that late harvesting for 4-6 days after grain maturity
(varied for each rice variety) caused the reduction of head rice by 9-50%. Among 162
respondents, 95.1% were aware of the negative impact of delayed harvesting compared to
the awareness of recommended harvesting time for each rice variety. Training activities
jointly organised by CARD project and extension centre provided this knowledge for
49.35% respondents in addition to the initiation of smallholder farmers through their self-
learning (Figure 1). Despite the awareness of almost all respondents on the consequences
of late harvesting, 45.34% smallholder farmers still delayed their paddy harvesting. The
major problems identified were the shortages of harvesting labours (65.82%) and
harvesters (25.32%). This implies that not only the extension propaganda of correct

harvesting time is important but also the facilitation of harvesting equipment availability
for harvesting mechanisation.

7.2 Harvesting methods
Figure 2 represents the percentage of respondents who used different harvesting methods
in 2006 (before this project started) and 2009. There were 83.65% respondents who
pointed out that they harvested rice manually three years ago. After three years, the
number of respondents using manual harvesting practice decreased remarkably by
approximately 70%. Alternatively, the percentage of respondents employing harvesters
went up significantly from 6.29% in 2006 to 63.35% three years later. Almost all
respondents in this survey obtained knowledge of appropriate rice harvesting method. For
instance, there were 80% of respondents who knew paddy threshing should be done
immediately after harvesting.

7.3 Rice drying
Drying is considered as an utmost intervention opportunity to minimize rice grain
cracking after drying or during milling stage. According to the field experiments carried
out in this project, it is estimated that the average percentage of grain loss caused by sun
drying and field drying was about 8.7% for Winter-Spring crop. This number will be
higher in wet season due to the fluctuation of weather and rains. As shown in Figure 3,
there was a decrease in the percentage of respondents who used sun drying (from 79.5%
in 2006 to 39.75% in 2009) and the number of respondents using dryers increased by
40% (8.70% to 47.83% during three years 2006-2009). The unavailability of dryers and
the high cost of mechanical drying as compared to sun drying were two reasons that
caused 12% respondents not being able to apply mechanical drying. Though over 80% of
respondents thought the mechanical drying is better than sun drying and reduces grain
cracking during milling (92.5%), there were only 53% respondents who knew mechanical

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drying improved rice quality. The remaining respondents pointed out that mechanical

drying is energy-consuming (21.12%) and they had no idea about mechanical drying
(26.09%). About 63.3% respondents stated that CARD project and local extension
centres were the providers of these drying knowledge and information (Figure 4).


Figure 1. Three information sources of
harvesting knowledge gained by
respondents.
Figure 2. Comparisons of various harvesting
methods used by respondents in 2006 and 2009.


Figure 3. Trends of using sun drying and
mechanical drying among respondents in
2006 and 2009.
Figure 4. Three information sources of rice
drying knowledge obtained by respondents.

7.4 Training program and extension activities
Among 162 respondents, the percentage of respondents who took part in the training
program of CARD project was 41% (66 respondents). The effectiveness of these training
workshops and study tours was highly appreciated by 98.5% respondents, but there were
only 1.52% respondents who said that they had a prior knowledge of all the information
provided during the training. Figure 5 describes the comparison between the percentage
of respondents attending CARD training activities (41%, 66 out of total 162 respondents)
and the number of respondents (out of 162 respondents including CARD-trainee-based

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and non CARD trainee-based) who had correct answers in terms of harvesting time,
harvesting method and rice drying. It was obvious that the percentage of respondents

giving correct answers in relation to harvesting time (95.1%), harvesting method (63%)
and rice drying (80%) was higher than that of CARD trainee-based respondents (41%).
(Figure 5). This implies that the non CARD trainee-based respondents gained farming
knowledge from somewhere else. This can be explained partly by a spreading effect
within farmers’ community as 91.5% of CARD trainee-based respondent stated that they
did talk about the interesting information received during the training to friends or
neighbours who did not participate in the training. In addition, farmers also play an active
role in self-learning to build up their farming knowledge day by day. To improve the
effectiveness of training activities, respondents stated that it should have both
presentations and study tours (54.5%) and invited experts to give a talk (31.8%).

7.5 Cooperatives
Within 162 respondents, (including cooperatives with or without the equipment provided
by CARD) 83.2% of the respondents were members of cooperatives. Almost respondents
regarded cooperatives are the valuable resources in terms of farming knowledge
dissemination (86.3%) and production support (73.5%). However, there were only 41.9%
respondents who pointed out that they will use the dryers and harvesters that are managed
by cooperatives to reduce the losses and increase the product value. The particular
reasons were not mentioned in this survey but it showed the necessity of improving
cooperatives’ competency to win the farmers’ confidence.



Figure 5. Comparison between the percentage of respondents attending CARD training
activities (41%, 66 out of total 162 respondents) and the number of respondents (out of 162
respondents including CARD-trainee-based and non CARD trainee-based) who had correct
answers in terms of harvesting time, harvesting method and rice drying.


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7.6 The impact of this project to smallholder farmers
In general, all the information presented in above sections showed that CARD activities
carried out during two years have a very satisfactory impact on the knowledge and
farming practices of smallholder farmers belonging to the cooperatives involved in this
project. The results of this survey indicated that smallholder farmers have improved
farming practices, i.e. less sun drying, more mechanical harvesting, and more mechanical
drying. It is clear that these changes partly resulted from extension activities conducted
by CARD and extension centres.

The statistical t and F tests were used to compare between two groups of respondents,
respondents attending CARD training activities (denoted as CARD-trainees) versus
respondents have not taken part in any training activities of CARD project (denoted as
non-CARD-trainees). Two groups were compared into two categories: information line
and rice knowledge based on their answers in the farming survey. The statistical analysis
showed that there is no significant difference in ‘information line’ between CARD-
trainees and non-CARD-trainees groups (P>0.05). Analysis of percentage of correct
answers for rice knowledge questions in the survey given by CARD-trainees and non-
CARD trainees show that the difference in rice knowledge between two groups is
insignificant (P> 0.05). This emphasizes that there is a so-called spreading effect among
smallholder farmers community. The awareness of smallholder farmers in terms of rice
knowledge is enhanced through training sessions, extension services, demonstration
activities and the spreading effect. The availability of equipments in cooperatives such as
rice dryers, rice harvesters funded by CARD certainly provided more chances for farmers
utilising farming machineries. This impact resulted in the increase in both percentages of
smallholder farmers applying appropriate farming practices and a number of harvesters
and dryers installed by the farmers as compared to three years ago before this project
started.
8. Training activities
8.1 Training of farmers

As a key objective of this CARD project, the demonstrations and training activities for the
extension workers and the farmers were undertaken during consecutive crop seasons since
February 2007 in Kien Giang Province and Can Tho City. These training workshops and
demonstrations aimed at disseminating the farmers and extension workers the economic
value of correct harvesting time, appropriate harvesting method, and the benefit of
mechanical drying against sun drying. Table 2 summarises the number of training sessions
and number of trained farmers and extension workers conducted by this CARD project.
There were 16 one day training sessions for smallholder farmers and a workshop was
arranged in Can Tho City for only extension workers (25 July 2008). Up to date, a total
number of 2312 farmers and 300 extension officers have been trained on cracking issues for
controlling of rice quality during harvest and post-harvest operations (Table 2). It is clear that

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the target of training 1800 farmers and extension workers in this project (520 farmers/year
and 39 extension officers/year) has been quite achieved.

The content of training session comprised of three lessons on harvesting time, harvesting
methods and drying techniques and demonstrations of the dryer and the combined harvester
(Figures 6-10). Participants visited the dryer in local sites and discussions were held
afterwards. Every training session was finished up by related discussions (Figures 11-13).
The materials for these extension activities were booklet and pamphlet derived from results
of this project (Figure 14).

Table 2. Number of farmers and extension workers trained in different seasons from Feb 2007
to July 2008.

Number of farmers
trained
Number of
officers/extension workers

Province District Date
One day Total One day Total
1. Kien Giang
(Dry season)
Tan Hiep
Giong Rieng
25/02/2007
26/02/2007
124
189

313
10
15

25
1. Kien Giang

2. Can Tho
(Wet season)
Chau Thanh
Hon Dat

Phong Dien
Co Do
Thot Not
Vinh Thanh
28/7/2007
29/7/2007

22/9/2007
23/9/2007
29/9/2007
30/9/2007
181
178

195
139
165
167






1025
10
12

12
12
15
18

79
1. Kien Giang
(Dry season)
2. Can Tho
An Bien
Go Quao
O Mon
Co Do
08/3/2008
09/3/2008
10/3/2008
11/3/2008
183
159
135
183



660
10
11
10
10



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1. Kien Giang Giong Rieng 12/07/2008 82 13

(Wet season) Chau Thanh 13/07/2008 76 158 07 20
2. Can Tho Vinh Thanh 23/07/2008 81 15
(Wet season) Thot Not 24/07/2008 75 20
Can Tho City 25/07/2008 0 156 100 135
Total:
Wet season 2007-2008: 2312 300


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Figure 6. Full of the participants in the
meeting hall at the training lesson in 25
th

February 2007

Figure 7. Visit the combine-harvester at Tan
Phat A co-operative, after training lesson (25
th

Feb 2007)

Figure 8. Harvesting lessons taught by Dr.
Truong Vinh in An Bien District, Kien
Giang 08
th
March 2008.
Figure 9. Visiting the 8-ton-reversible air-flow
flat bed dryer (Tan Phat A cooperative) after
training lesson.

Figure 10. Demonstration of Nhut Thanh
combine-harvester.
Figure 11. Discussion after lessons in Can Tho.

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Figure 12. Discussion during training workshop in Co Do District 24
th
July 2008




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Figure 13. Discusion after the demonstration of dryer and combine harvester



Figure 14. Participants were reading training leaflet distributed by this project in the workshop
held at Giong Rieng District, Kien Giang on 12
th
July 2008.

8.2 Study tours for farmers and service providers
The study tours were organised as a part of the training program as described in Table 2. The
glimpses of these tours are presented in the following figures (Figs 15-18).

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Figure 15. Study tour on 15/12/07
(discussion)
Figure 16. Study tour on 15/12/07 (dryer
demonstration)

Figure 17. Study tour on 16/12/07 (Hoang
Thang Combined-harvester Factory)
Figure 18. Study tour on 16/12/07 (Hoang Thang
Combined-harvester demonstration)


8.3 Demonstrations

During the last three years, postharvest machineries such as reaper, thresher, combine-
harvester and driers were installed in partner cooperatives to demonstrate the benefits of
improved harvesting and drying methods against conventional methods. Figs 19-22 illustrate
some harvesting and drying equipment funded by this CARD project. These equipments have
been used in demonstration session after each training workshop and approached by
smallholder farmers under the management of partner cooperatives. It was felt that the
availability of equipment strengthened the impact of using appropriate postharvest
technology whereby the smallholder farmers can apply.

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Figure 19. SDG-4 (reversible, 4-ton/batch) dryer with a solar collector (a new development at
NLU in early 2007). This unique drying system has been installed in Go Gon farmers’
cooperative in Long An province.




Figure 21. One-ton reversible experimental dryer: Airflow upward (left figure) and
Downward reverse (right figure)


Figure 20. A 1.3m wide reaper provided
to Tan Thoi cooperative (Can Tho)

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Figure 22. Nhut Thanh combined harvester in field at Tan Phat co-operative.

8.4 Mill installation and training of mill owners/operators

To carry out the milling experiments, the rubber-roll dehusker provided by this CARD
project was installed at Hung Loi milling line (Figure 23). To make the farmers, service

providers, millers and extension workers aware of various factors responsible for harvesting
and milling losses and degradation of rice quality, about 70 milling plant owners and milling
service provider, machinery companies’ representatives took part in a milling workshop
‘Current situation of milling system in the Mekong River Delta and methods to improve the
milling quality of rice’ to be held on 6
th
Dec 2008 at the Meeting Hall of People’s Committee
Tan Hiep District, Kien Giang Province.


18

Figure 23. Prof. Bhesh Bhandari and A/P. Dr. Truong Vinh at the meeting with Hung Loi
milling plant owner at Tan Hiep district of Kien Giang province for collaboration on milling
experiment.

A workshop ‘Current situation of milling system in the Mekong River Delta and methods to
improve the milling quality of rice’ emphasized on current situation of the milling system in
Kien Giang Province based on results of survey conducted during two years (2006-2008),
introducing various milling lines and equipments, and evaluating the investment efficiency,
industrialization planning of milling system in MRD (Figures 24-28). This workshop
gathered participations, reports, and experiences from experts including milling plant owners,
service providers, extension staff and Nong Lam University. Participants presented and
discussed current situation of the milling system in MRD, particularly at Tan Hiep district
which possesses a large number of milling units in Kien Giang Province. A brief report of
this workshop was submitted to CARD program in the MS11 report.

19

Figure 24a. Milling line of 7 ton/hour capacity used for milling experiment.

Figure 24b. The rubber-roll dehusker installed in the milling line supported by CARD.



20

Figure 25. Milling workshop held in Tan Hiep
district, Kien Giang on Dec 2008.
Figure 26. Discussions in the workshop.

Figure 27. Participants of the workshop. Figure 28. Visit of Tan Hiep milling plant.


9. Physical and Financial Benefits
To achieve the physical and ultimately financial benefits to the farmers by the way of
controlling rice cracking we propose that the measures listed in Table 3 should be
implemented from farmers and extension centres of the government.







21
Table 3. Implemention from stakeholders to achieve the physical and financial benefits in rice

production.
Measures Responsibility
Use correct harvesting time (few days early
harvesting)
farmers
Apply mechanical harvesting farmers
Choose an appropriate rice variety farmers
Use mechanical drying farmers
Technical
Install roller milling system millers
Establish more pilot cooperatives for training Provincial government
Extension
Disseminate the information to control the rice
cracking through the co-operatives
Extension workers
Financial Facilitate to acquire the harvester and dryers
for the farmers
Provincial government


9.1 Integrated data on harvest and post-harvest losses of rice and information on the
use of harvesters and dryers

From the experiments and surveys undertaken under the project CARD026/VIE05, the data
presented in Table 4 shows the average grain and value losses at each step of the whole
process from harvesting to milling. By the application of new technologies such as combine-
harvester, mechanical dryer and modified milling system, the total losses of rice can be
reduced dramatically as analysed and presented below.

Table 4. Overall evaluation of total harvest and post – harvest losses (converted into grain losses

– kg/100 kg dried paddy).
Harvesting
time
Harvesting
method
Threshing Sun drying Drying Milling Total
losses
(%)
Line
Panicle(VL=8.7%) 13.1 1
Yard(VL=4%) 8.4 2
Correct(0%) 4.4 3
Manual/
Reaper
(GL=2.9%)
Yes
(VL=1.5%)
Incorrect (VL=5%) 9.4 4
Yard(VL=4%) 6.7 5
Correct(0%) 2.7 6
Correct
(VL=0%)
Combine-
Harvester
(GL=1.2%
VL = 1.5%)
No
(0%)
Incorrect (VL=5%)
Improved

system
(0%)
7.9 7
Panicle(V=8.7%) 20.6 8
Yard(VL=4%) 15.9 9
Correct(0%) 11.9 10
Manual/
Reaper
(GL=2.9%)
Yes
(VL=1.5%)
Incorrect (VL=5%) 16.9 11
Yard(VL=4%) 14.2 12
Correct(0%) 10.2 13
Late
(VL=3.5%)
Combine-
Harvester
(GL=1.2%
VL = 1.5%)
No
(0%)
Incorrect (VL=5%)
Normal
system
(4%)
15.2 14
Note: VL= Value losses, GL= Grain losses.

22
Harvesting
time
Harvesting
method
Threshing Sun drying Drying Milling
Total
(%)
Line
Panicle(VL=8.7%) 17.1
15
Yard(VL=4%) 12.4
16
Correct(0%) 8.4
17
Manual/
Reaper
(GL=2.9%)
Yes
(V=1.5%)
Incorrect (V=5%) 13.4
18
Yard(VL=4%) 10.7
19

Correct(0%) 6.7 20
Correct
(VL=0%)
Combined-
Harvester

(GL=1.2%
VL = 1.5%)
No
(0%)

Incorrect (V=5%)
Normal
system
(4%)
11.9 21
Panicle(VL=8.7%) 16.6
22
Yard(VL=4%) 11.9
23
Correct(0%) 7.9
24
Manual/
Reaper
(G=2.9%)
Yes
(VL=1.5%)
Incorrect (VL=5%) 12.9
25
Yard(VL=4%) 10.2
26

Correct(0%) 6.2 27
Late
(VL=3.5%)
Combined-

Harvester
(GL=1.2%
VL = 1.5%)
No
(0%)

Incorrect (VL=5%)
Improved
system
(0%)
11.2 28

Table 4 presents 28 possibly matching lines of which conventional methods are maintained
or innovative methods are applied in one step or the whole process from harvesting to milling
stages. The total losses is the accumulation of losses of every step, namely harvesting time,
harvesting method, threshing, drying (sun drying or mechanical drying), and milling. For
example, the highest losses goes to line 8, at 20.6% total losses, which practices late
harvesting (3.5%), manual cutting (2.9%), threshing (1.5%), field drying (8.7%), and normal
milling system (4%). In contrast, in case the new technologies are applied to the whole
process, total losses can be reduced to 2.7% as demonstrated by line 6 (using correct
harvesting, combine-harvester, no threshing, correct drying technique and advanced milling
system). The total losses can be reduced significantly if any intervention opportunity is
introduced to any step. For instance, sun drying in line 8 is replaced by correct mechanical
drying can reduce the total losses to 15.9%. When smallholder farmers and cooperatives want
to upgrade rice production technology, Table 3 can be used as a reference tool to estimate the
percentage of losses that can be prevented.

- Harvesting time: The data from our experiments and surveys at two cooperatives (Tan
Phat A – Kien Giang and Tan Thoi 1 – Can Tho) showed that late harvesting contributed to a
value loss of 3.5% in average. About 70% of farmers in the MRD were harvesting late (MS 7

– Report of CARD026/VIE05).

- Harvesting method: Mechanical harvesting in MRD until the year 2009 can be estimated
from the data of Can Tho, Dong Thap and Long An provinces. In Can Tho, about 165 reapers
and 170 combine-harvesters contribute to mechanical harvesting approximately 30% of rice
field in which 10% of harvesting is done by using reapers (Can Tho report 2009). With the
annual rice planting area of 216000 ha, the average rice field cut by machine in Can Tho was
257ha/machine/year. In Dong Thap, the estimated number of reapers and combine-harvesters
are 900 and 385, respectively, contribute 42% of rice field harvested mechanically where
20% is harvested by combined-harvesters (Dong Thap report 2009). The average rice field

23
cut by machine in Dong Thap was 233ha/machine/year. In Long An province, the number of
reapers and combined-harvesters were 1846 and 756 (Nhut Thanh company 2009),
respectively, mechanically harvested 70% of rice field in which 35% was harvested by
reapers. The average rice field cut by machine in Long An was 180ha/machine/year which is
equivalent to machine capacity of 4ha/day. The data of Long An is reasonable and close to
the actual capacity of standard combine-harvester (SCH = 4ha/day) currently used in the
MRD and was selected for estimation of the percentage of rice field cut by machine in the
MRD as shown in Table 5.

Table 5. Number of harvesters and dryers and the harvesting mechanization in MRD
2006 2008(2009)
Location
Area
(km
2
)
Rice planting
area, 2008-

2009,
(1000ha)
Rice field
cutting by
machine
2009
a
, %
Reaper
Combine-
Harvester
Dryer
b
Reaper
Combine-
Harvester
Dryer
b
MRD 40,263 3357
16%
1868 33 6200 3399 989 (2300) 6600
An Giang 3,406 560
12%
108 11 1481 267 251
1616
Bạc Liêu 2,547 260
2%
30 0 119 40 11
153
Bến Tre 2,322 200

2%
14 0 13 36 0
22
Cà Mau 5,211 130
1%
2 0 41 2 4
61
Cần Thơ 1,389 216
21%
125 8 350 135(165) 51(170)
407
Đồng Tháp 3,238 408
32%
249 1 355 526(900) 105(285)
405
Hậu Giang 1608 86
7%
24 0 350 30 18
400
Kiên Giang 6,269 317
27%
14 0 1100 27(168) 400(800)
1250
Long An 4,993 433
70%
1107 9 400 1846 100 (756)
475
Sóc Trăng 3,223 249
2%
30 3 700 32 16

810
Tiền Giang 2,367 100
28%
51 0 222 285 14
255
Trà Vinh 2,215 182
3%
25 1 184 38 7
204
Vĩnh Long 1,475 216
5%
89 0 487 105 12
542
Sources: Dien dan Khuyen nong @ Cong nghe Trung tam khuyen nong Quoc gia-3/2008,, Nhựt Thành
Company 2009, Tống Hữu Thuẫn 2006, Báo cáo Bộ NN-PTNT và Danida (2004), CARD data collection 2009.
(a):The data calculated based on the cutting capacity of 180ha/year-machine (equivalent to Long An data that
70% of rice field cutting by machine in 2009). (b)The dryers indicated in this table are flat-bed dryers.


According to Table 5, the percentage of rice field cut by machine in MRD in 2009 is 16%.
Thus 84% is harvested manually. The number of harvesters increased from 1% in 2006 to
16% in 2009 influenced by many factors including some parts from CARD project. It’s
impossible to determine numerically the impact of CARD project on the increase of
mechanical harvesting. However, this can be estimated from the cooperative level and related
province where the CARD project implementation was concentrated.

- Drying: with the total of more than 6600 flat-bed dryers currently used in the MRD, about
33% of the rice is dried mechanically (CARD026/VIE05 drying report 2009). From 2006 to
2008, the number of flat-bed dryers increased by only 400 units. The impact of CARD
project was not necessarily only on the number of dryer units, but on the drying technology

in order to improve the dryer efficiency and promote the mechanical drying. The dryers were
installed in various cooperatives for experiments and demonstrations and used to train the
farmers how to dry correctly to reduce rice cracking.