Click on “Download PDF” for the PDF version or on the title for the HTML version.


If you are not an ASABE member or if your employer has not arranged for access to the full-text, Click here for options.

Scaling Strategy of BAU Recirculating Paddy Dryer in Bangladesh: Challenges and Solutions

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

Citation:  2023 ASABE Annual International Meeting  2300384.(doi:10.13031/aim.202300384)
Authors:   Chayan Kumer Saha, Sahabuddin Ahamed, Surajit Sarkar, Ismat Ara Begum, Md. Monjurul Alam
Keywords:   Aromatic paddy, Capacity utilization, Dissemination, Income generating activity, Parboiled paddy, Rice mill.

Abstract. Major rice mills rely on weather for paddy drying and they cannot dry paddy in time. On the other hand, existing mechanical dryers of automatic and semi-automatic rice mills can dry either parboiled or aromatic paddy. Post-Harvest Loss Reduction Innovation Lab (PHLIL)-Bangladesh project, Department of Farm Power and Machinery, Bangladesh Agricultural University has developed a 12 ton capacity BAU Recirculating Paddy Dryer suitable both for parboiled and aromatic paddy for rice mills. Now, this dryer needs to be introduced and scaled up to the rice mills. For this reason, effect of the BAU Recirculating Paddy Dryer on the performance of a major rice mill need to be analyzed first. Even, different types of rice mills may face different challenges that need to be addressed for scaling up the proposed dryer. Hence, key informant interviews were conducted with owner and manager of Moti Auto Rice Mill, Shyamganj Bazar, Purbadhala, Netrokona and a focused group discussion was conducted with rice mill workers to identify the concerning issues that need to be addressed for scaling of the BAU Recirculating Paddy Dryer in Bangladesh. The study found that the capacity utilization of the Moti Auto rice mill has increased from 33.3% (before adopting the dryer) to 60% (after adopting the dryer) as the miller does not need to wait for favorable weather for paddy drying after the adoption of BAU Recirculating Paddy dryer. Women did not lose their job as the miller is still using the concrete drying floor for paddy while there is a clear sunny day in parallel to the dryer. The male workers are getting more jobs to do (loading, unloading and parboiling) which has increased their weekly income by about USD 14.3 after the adoption of the dryer. Workers involved in sun drying operation of paddy in the rice mills found poultry rearing, cattle fattening and goat rearing as the highly demandable and profitable alternatives of their present job. However, they have opined that they will need training and credit facility to involve themselves in those income generating activities.

(Download PDF)    (Export to EndNotes)