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Scope of BAU-STR in existing paddy drying system of Bangladesh

Published by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, St. Joseph, Michigan www.asabe.org

Citation:  2018 ASABE Annual International Meeting  1800674.(doi:10.13031/aim.201800674)
Authors:   Chayan Kumer Saha, Md. Ashraful Alam, Md. Monjurul Alam, Alex Winter-Nielsen, Jagger Harvey
Keywords:   BAU-STR dryer, Bangladesh, Drying practice, Drying loss, Paddy

Abstract. Post-harvest loss reduction may play a vital role by introducing appropriate post-harvest technology to meet the food demand of rapidly increasing population since agricultural land is decreasing every year in Bangladesh. To address this problem, the objectives of this study were to identify existing drying practice and problems at farmers level, and to evaluate technical performance of half ton capacity BAU-STR dryer and one ton capacity solar bubble dryer (SBD) in different paddy seasons. The research was performed in two phases; a survey and a laboratory work. Survey work was conducted at Mymensingh and Jessore districts of Bangladesh using a semi-structured questionnaire. The laboratory experiments were conducted at Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh during Boro and Aman season 2015. The average cost of drying paddy in yard was found higher compared to field drying with a drying period of 2 and 4 days both in Mymensingh and Jessore districts, respectively. The survey also revealed that the loss of drying both in field and in yard was found around 3%. But, using BAU-STR dryer, Paddy was dried around moisture content of 12% in Boro and Aman seasons within 4 to 6 hrs whereas SBD took 16 to 18 hrs, but the moisture content of paddy in SBD could not be reached below 14%. Drying loss of paddy was found an average 0.45% in BAU-STR dryer whereas it was found an average 0.8% in SBD dryer. Therefore, BAU-STR dryer would be an alternative and effective drying technology for farmers and small traders in Bangladesh.

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