Portasol: Drying Palay Safely And Efficiently

Drying reduces grain moisture content to a safe level for storage. When rice is harvested, it contains up to 25 per cent moisture. High moisture level during storage can lead to grain discoloration, and encourage development of molds.

- Randy V. Urlanda

Traditional drying methods are still old practices, such as mat drying where the threshed palay (unhusked rice) are spread on mats and canvas. Another one is pavement drying used in large scale drying. Here, palay are laid on pavements specifically made for drying grains. The last method is using a whole stretch of highway as rice dryer. This is both hazardous to both rice dryers and motorists who have to hog the clear half of the road to avoid running over the grains.

Due to this road hazard, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) issued a statement several rice drying seasons ago, reminding citizens that it is unlawful for any person to convert any part of the public highway, bridge, wharf, or trail to his own private use, or to obstruct the same.

To solve this perennial wasteful palay drying every harvest time, to which losses already totaled to about R12 billion, inventorbusinessman Francisco “Popoy” Pagayon invented Portasol, a stackable set of grains thermal drying trays, which can accommodate 150 kilos of palay per drying. Portasol is ideal for small rice farmers with one to two hectares of ricefield.