Myanmar: IRRI-designed threshers introduced in Maubin and Bogale Townships to reduce postharvest losses

By Reianne Quilloy and Martin Gummert

The Learning Alliance (LA) platform conducted an overview of the TC-600 lightweight thresher, designed at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), to show how postharvest losses can be reduced in Maubin and Bogale Townships on 18 and 20 November.  IRRI postharvest specialist Christopher Cabardo, Assistant Scientist-Agricultural Engineering Yan Lin Aung, and consultant for LiFT and ACIAR project Dr. Myo Aung Kyaw provided the lecture and demonstration and shared IRRI’s initiative to assess and reduce postharvest losses and add value to rice.

During the event, the participants had the chance to examine the thresher and assess its performance. The Postharvest team answered questions from the farmers and manufacturers regarding the technical specifications and cost of the thresher. They also provided feedback where they think the equipment could be improved.

Threshing right after harvesting is crucial to prevent postharvest losses but Myanmar farmers often delay their threshing activities for several weeks due to lack of suitable threshers. Threshers that are available locally are heavy, cumbersome, and do not work well with wet crop.

The activity was funded by the LiFT and ACIAR project.

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