A paddy dryer in operation in Khandilay village, Myitthar township, Mandalay Division. Pic: Dr Myo Aung Kyaw

RICE millers have urged more members of the industry to use domestically made paddy dryers, saying the machines help to produce higher quality rice while reducing post-harvest losses.

U Sai Ye Swe, owner of the Sein Kabar rice mill at Pathein Gyi in Mandalay Division, said he began using one of the dryers in August 2006 and has been so impressed by its performance he plans to buy another after the rainy season.

He said the machine cost about K4 million and dry four tonnes of paddy at a time.

“The machine is very useful during the summer paddy harvest season from May to June when it is often overcast and there is not enough sun to dry the harvested rice,” said U Sai Ye Swe.

The paddy dryer also saved time. It took about five hours to dry four tonnes of paddy using one of the machines, while drying the same amount in the sun shine took about 15 hours, he said.

The machines also resulted in less broken rice than sun-dried paddy and have the advantage of using rice husks as an energy source

“It’s no problem for us to get rice husks, so we don’t have to worry about high fuel costs,” U Sai Ye Swe said.

The paddy dryers were launched on the market in early 2006 by the Pioneer Post Harvest Development Group, which has since sold 17 of the devices.

Dr Myo Aung Kyaw, the managing director of Pioneer Post Harvest Development Group, said the dryers were based on technology developed in Vietnam which he studied in 2006 while attending a month-long course at Nonglam University, in the country’s commercial capital, Ho Chi Minh City.

Dr Myo Aung Kyaw said he chose Vietnamese technology for two reasons. The first was that its climate is similar to that of Myanmar and the second was the low cost of the machines compared to imported paddy dryers. About 7000 of the machines were being used in Vietnam, he said.

“Our machines provide high performance and reliability at low-cost, and contribute to better productivity,” said Dr Myo Aung Kyaw, who is also secretary general of the Myanmar Rice and Paddy Traders’ Association.

He said the machines were easy to maintain, because they were made with local raw materials.

Dr Myo Aung Kyaw said he had no doubt that rice production would increase significantly if greater use was made of the machines by the rice milling industry.

U Aung Kyaw Min, the owner of a rice mill at Maubin in Ayeyarwady Division who has been using a dryer since February, said the machines helped to reduce losses caused by rain during the harvest.

“If paddy gets wet it’s almost impossible to dry in the sun and even if it does dry out only about 50 percent will be in good condition; but with a dryer almost all of the paddy is in good condition,” he said.

“I think paddy dryers are essential for millers,” said U Aung Kyaw Min.