Mobile maize dryer development:
Maize has been one of the major cash crops of Thailand. About 65-70 per cent of the 4-5 million tons annual production has been exported to other Asian countries. The remaining produce was utilised by the domestic feed industry. Maize production is increasing due to the utilisation of hybrid seed and high market demand from the feed industry.
Harvesting of maize is usually done in two periods: July to October and December to January. Wet maize harvesting and storage practiced commonly in the first period has posed serious problems especially due to the high incidence of aflatoxin. There is an urgent need for improvements in both on-farm handling practices, and cooperative/collector drying. Traditionally farmers shell their maize at the time of selling to cooperative/collector. It is also a critical time for drying shelled maize to avoid hazards associated with microorganism development. Recommendations have been issued to dry freshly shelled maize to safe moisture content, within a 24-48 hour period.
Considering numbers of advantage of local drying at farm and cooperative/collector levels such as:
Excessive moisture reduction at selling to collector, end user or exporter can be avoided. Additional income generated from selling maize at 14-15 per cent moisture content instead of at 18-20 per cent considerable.
Storage losses are quantity and quality as well as cost incurred in storage can also be reduced.
The possibility of long-term storage is enhanced. Maize prices are generally higher towards the end of the harvesting period especially during the off-season period.
High quality maize in terms reduced of aflatoxin content will command better prices or premiums from the feed industry.
Transportation costs from production area to silo complexes are lower due to lighter weight of dry maize.
From these advantages various types of mobile dryers have been tested/developed. If you want to know more, please feel free to contact us, we look forward to talking with you.
