The harvesting and storage of rice is the final step in a farmer’s growing season. Under the bright sun and using manual methods, growers can only store their rice for a very short time.
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| An example of a foreign silo |
In larger warehouses, the quality of stored rice is often compromised due to overly simple storage conditions.
A new type of silo has been developed to address the shortcomings of many current preservation methods. This product has been researched and manufactured by Vietnamese scientists to provide an optimal solution to minimize agricultural product losses during storage.
According to Professor Dr. Bui Song Cau from the Center for Research on Technology and Industrial Equipment at Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, addressing and mitigating the disadvantages posed by Vietnam’s weather and climate is key to successful agricultural preservation.
The model he and his colleagues propose relies on the principle of preventing external heat from entering while allowing internal heat to escape through ventilation. In the current conditions of Vietnam, a safe and reasonable temperature for storage is 35 degrees Celsius. Thus, the process of introducing rice into the silo must follow a sequence that includes cleaning, removing impurities, and supplementary drying using a combustion system, followed by transportation via a conveyor belt into the silo. The silo itself has also been improved: the roof design allows rice to flow down evenly, while internal fans regulate the temperature, heat-resistant edges have been reinforced, and importantly, four hoppers have been installed to facilitate easy rice extraction.
With this new silo storage method, farmers have saved considerable labor, reduced the accumulation of bacteria and impurities compared to previous storage methods, and significantly decreased agricultural product losses during storage.
The application of this new silo type also enables farmers to gradually mechanize their food production processes, saving costs and greatly increasing convenience. When comparing the effectiveness of domestically designed silos with those imported from abroad, analyses by scientists reveal that the application of agricultural product preservation using Vietnam’s designs is appropriate. Notably, it significantly reduces costs by up to one-third compared to imported silos.
With a high annual rice export volume, Vietnam needs to implement improved processes for preserving food products. Proposing a new silo structure that is compatible with Vietnam’s specific climate, addressing moisture balance, and importantly reducing loss rates while enhancing storage quality is the goal set for Vietnamese scientists researching this issue.
