Rice is the second major staple food crop in Pakistan and is grown in all four provinces of the country. After harvest, rice is threshed with manual beating, bullock/tractor treading followed by manual cleaning.
Introduction
Rice is the second major staple food crop in Pakistan and is grown in all four provinces of the country. After harvest, rice is threshed with manual beating, bullock/tractor treading followed by manual cleaning. With this conventional system, the rice threshing season continues for 3 to 4 months in Sindh and Balochistan provinces. This system is highly laborious, time consuming, deteriorates rice quality and the harvested rice is exposed to bad weather conditions. To overcome these problems a high capacity rice thresher was introduced in rice growing areas of Sindh and Balochistan provinces.
Technology Development, Demonstration and Recommendation
In order to mechanize rice threshing, a tractor PTO operated high capacity (throw-in
type) rice thresher was imported from Thailand. The machine was tested on local varities at Rice Research Institutes Kala Shah Kaku and Dokri. After incorporating minor adjustments in the machine, it was extensively tested on IRRI varieties. The performance of the machine was encouraging. As a result, local manufacturing of the machine was initiated. Six manufacturers are now producing this machine in various localities (Faisalabad, Lahore, Rahim Yar Khan, Nawab Shah, and Larkana). More than 700 units were purchased by the rice growers and these are now in operation in Sindh and Balochistan provinces.
Due to extensive demonstrations in Sindh and Balochistan provinces, it is now the only
popular machine in the rice growing areas. It not only saves the time (reduces the threshing season from 4 months) but also minimizes grain losses, improves quality of rice which ensures better market prices. The operating cost is just Rs. 190/- per tonne and the financial benefit to the rice grower is more than Rs. 210/- per tonne. The net saving from one machine is Rs. 0.5 million per season.
Key References
Zafar, A. W. (2005). Adaptation and commercialization of throw-in-type rice thresher. A report submitted to Agricultural Linkages Programme, PARC, Islamabad.
