Republic of the Philippines
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Philippine Center for Postharvest
Development and Mechanization
CLSU Compound, Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija

NEWS STORIES

PHilMech projects win at PSAE Nat’l Convention
by Vladimir B. Caliguiran (April 24, 2015)
The PHilMech project ‘Accelerating the Establishment of MCSTD-Based Enterprises through the Social Laboratory’ won the second place, both in technical paper and poster under the agricultural processing, environment and waste utilization category, at the on-going Philippine Society of Agricultural Engineers (PSAE) National Convention in General Santos City.


The project aimed to ‘encourage establishment of new multi-commodity solar tunnel dryer enterprise through an active partnership with the Kababaihang Masigla ng Nueva Ecija (KMNE) as social laboratory.


The project had assisted various farmers’ organizations, women’s group and small and medium enterprises from Bulacan, Pampanga, Bicol region, Cagayan, and Batangas in improving and developing their products through the MCSTD.


Another social laboratory was also established at the Marinduque State College which is known for their breadfruit or rimas flour production using the dryer.
The said project was an undertaking of the Enterprise Development Division of PHilMech and implemented by Engr. Danilo M. Gamalog, Priscilla C. Castillo, Dr. Helen Martinez, and Engr. Genaro M. Tolentino.


Also, another PHilMech project entitled Development of Fluidized Bed Dryer for Complete Drying of High Moisture Paddy won the second prize for the poster competition under the Farm Power and Agricultural Mechanization category.


The project is an effort of the Agricultural Mechanization Division of PHilMech to find a better and alternative solution in drying high moisture paddy. It is implemented by Engr. Reagan J. Pontawe, Engr. Roselyn B. Villacorte, Engr. Nestor T. Asuncion and Dr. Romualdo C. Martinez.


The PSAE National Convention is the biggest annual gathering of agricultural engineers in the country. According the the PSAE website (www.psae.org.ph), the convention is among the highlights of the celebration of the 26th Agricultural Engineering Week which is observed every fourth week of April. The Convention is being held at the KCC Convention and Events Center and Mindanao State University in General Santos City from April 19-25.


Simultaneously with the PSAE Convention is the 12th International Agricultural Engineering Conference. The two events are being participated by Agricultural Engineers and students from all over the country and participating nations such as Japan, Korea and Canada.