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TECHNICOM TO SUPPORT CSU’S PEANUT DIGGER by Dyann C. Daniel

Peanut is a traditional legume crop extensively grown in the sandy loam soils along the delta plains of Cagayan Valley (Region 2). It is primarily used for fuel, fiberboard, fodder, butter, milk, and oil. The Philippines is in the top 48 countries of overall world production with a share of about 29,301 MT. The cultivation of peanut crops relies heavily on animal and human power. Likewise, postharvest operations have been observed to cause a negative impact, resulting in high harvesting losses and aflatoxin contamination levels of more than 15 ppb in domestically-produced peanuts.

To address these issues, Cagayan State University (CSU), successfully produced three (3) peanut mechanization technologies in the last five years: the peanut sheller-sorter, the peanut stripper/thresher cum pod sorter, and the intelligent aerated bulk storage for in-shell peanuts. CSU proposed a localized innovative design of the peanut harvesting technology – the Peanut Digger – to further complement these technologies.

Seeing the potential contribution of CSU’s Peanut Digger to the country’s sustainable development, DOST-TAPI’s Technology Innovation for Commercialization (TECHNiCOM) Program recently approved the project and will be supporting its prototype improvement/ iteration, pilot and field testing, and market testing. The Program also previously granted the Grain Bagger of Isabela State University (ISU) assistance with its commercial model prototyping and pilot-testing.

Read more here: http://www.tapi.dost.gov.ph/news/199-isu-s-grain-bagger-bags-technicom-grant.

Getting inspiration from the country’s need for agricultural mechanization, Dr. Jose Guzman, Project Leader of CSU’s Peanut Digger project, said: “… [W]e hear the bottlenecks of every local peanut farmer. This local innovation could be more cost-effective than globally imported models.”

CSU’s Peanut Digger is expected to be essential in strengthening and boosting the local peanut industry by speeding up harvest operations and increasing the capacity of farmers to produce high-quality peanuts while reducing labor costs and losses. CSU’s Peanut Digger is a tractor-mounted, Power Take-Off (PTO) driven machine that digs the peanut plant from the soil, and elevates it to the conveyor, which removes excess soil, and inverts the plant. It was designed to meet the demands and standards of peanut growers, farmers, traders, and their consumers.

“… [T]o achieve a sustainable food production system and implement resilient agriculture, the adoption of technologies that increase the production and productivity of the local farmers is a major priority,” Dr. Guzman finally added.

ISU’S GRAIN BAGGER, BAGS TECHNICOM GRANT by Dyann C. Daniel

From humankind’s earliest efforts at agriculture over 10,000 years ago, little has changed in the challenges associated with grain storage. Efforts to seal and protect grain stores against losses to spoilage and pests have led to countless approaches to grain storage systems, giving way to globalization. Despite many advances in grain storage construction techniques, the challenges have remained the same while the need for flexible on-site grain storage continues to increase.

Isabela State University in the Isabela Province, Philippines, with a mandate of providing advanced instruction in the agricultural and natural sciences as well as in technological fields, took action on these trials by innovating a Self-Propelled Riding Type Grain Collector (Bagger) for Solar Dried Grains. The project was recently approved for TECHNiCOM funding following the Program’s 1st Wave of Call for Proposals.

The machine, having a high capacity of 360-380 cavans (18-19 tons) per hour, can collect solar-dried grains on paved roads and save them from possible wetting due to sudden rainfall. With over 80 percent of farmers, related cooperatives, and traders using solar drying, this technology has an economic advantage in the quality and quantity production of solar-dried crops.

Dr. Joel M. Alcaraz, Project Leader of ISU’s Grain Bagger project, firmly considers employing machines in agricultural production to significantly increase labor productivity and projected income of farmers and for the Philippines to compete with its Asian neighbors.

“…[I]n order to attain sustainable development in the country, locally designed and manufactured machines that are developed based on the demand of the local farmers are a prerequisite,” he added.

With the technical and commercial viability of ISU’s Grain Bagger, DOST-TAPI’s Technology Innovation for Commercialization (TECHNiCOM) Program is funding its pre-commercialization activities, specifically on commercial model prototyping and pilot-testing. The ISU is expected to fabricate commercial models of a self-propelled riding type grain collector and conduct their testing in different areas of Isabela.

Together with TECHNiCOM, the Grain Bagger will be able to fulfill the need to develop an affordable but high-capacity tool in the market for the target farmers and related cooperatives, especially with ISU’s advocacy to provide ease and comfort to every Filipino farmer in the country.

“Our local people and their increasing losses in agricultural production inspire me to introduce this simple machine that will lighten their work, particularly in drying crops on pavements,” Dr. Alcaraz stated.

ISU’s Grain Bagger is not just another innovative tool but something that can pave the way for other promising agricultural innovations – a feat that is challenging but worthwhile.

TECHNiCOM has opened its 2nd Wave of Call for Proposals in July 2022 and welcomes similar impactful pre-commercialization projects to apply.

For more information about the Call for Proposals, visit http://www.tapi.dost.gov.ph/call-for-proposals/technicom. You may also call 8837 2071 local 2153, or email [email protected] for inquiries.