Technology interventions for bulk handling of corn at farmers-cooperative level

Appropriate technologies to selected processes in the corn postharvest handling operation were developed. A survey involving 35 individual farmers and 20 farmer-cooperative respondents from the different municipalities of Manolo Fortich, Impasugong, Malaybalay, Sumilao, Maramag, Libona, and Pangantucan [Philippines] was conducted to analyze the existing corn handling systems in these areas. The survey included data/information on corn postharvest operations from the field to the processing area of the farmer/cooperative. It covered the handling, procurement, marketing, processing operations, constraints, and the identification of potential areas for application of an efficient bulk handling system. Findings showed that 17 scenarios of postharvest handling system for corn were identified. These scenarios were composed of different operations from harvesting, shelling, drying, storage and marketing. These systems were compared based on their cost-effectiveness. Among these systems, Systems 4 and 9 provided farmers with the highest net income of P17,676.82 during the dry season. In both systems, dried corn grains were immediately sold after the drying operation. On the other hand, during wet season, farmers gained the highest net income of P16,983.24 using Systems 5 and 10. Both systems used mechanical drying of grains during inclement weather condition. Analysis of the survey results also indicated the potential areas where bulk handling could be introduced in the existing handling system. These were in the handling and collection of grains during harvesting, shelling, drying, storage, and marketing. Five different bulk handling equipment and facilities were designed and developed as interventions to the introduced bulk handling system. The total cost of fabrication/construction of the introduced machinery/facility for the bulk handling system amounted to P203.000