PhiMech upgrades coop mechanical dryer with biomass furnace

Members of the San Antonio Farmers Multi-purpose Cooperative (SAFAMPCO) in Tacurong Citydo not have to worry about rainy days during harvest season.

They can now dry their palay using their newly-rehabilitated mechanical dryer, with lesser expenses.

Thanks to the technology of Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech), SAFAMPCO’s existing mechanical dryer now has a biomass furnace. The biomass furnace uses rice hulls, corn cubs, and wood to supply power to the mechanical dryer. The equipment was officially turned over to SAFAMPCO on January 30, 2014.

With the biomass furnace, drying each sack of palay only costs P15-P20. “This is way cheaper compared to our expenses before which is P40-P50 per sack. Now, we do not have to use gasoline to run the dryer,” said Jose Laygan, SAFAMPCO manager.

The rehabilitation and retrofitting of biomass furnace to SAFAMPCO’s existing mechanical dryer was made possible through the efforts of PhilMech, Department of Agriculture XII, Office of the Provincial Agriculturist-Sultan Kudarat, and the city government of Tacurong through its Office for Agricultural Services.

SAFAMPCO is one of the top 10 cooperatives in Sultan Kudarat.  

Jezereel Louise C. Billano