TRENDS IN SCIENCES, 202x; xx(xx): xxxxx RESEARCH ARTICLE

https://doi.org/

Crop or Crap: The Efficiency of Low-Cost Rice Milling Machine

Jasmin Osian

3rd Year Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering Student at Pangasinan State University-
Urdaneta City Campus
09317411290
osianjasmin@gmail.com

Received: 000, Revised: 000, Accepted: 000

Highlights

 The study features the importance of milling machine during post-harvest in rice farming.
 The significance of moisture content of the paddy in the milling process is included in the study.
 The numerical data for evaluating the efficiency of the low-cost milling machine are presented.
 The advances and lapses of low-cost milling machine are identified in the study.

Graphical abstract

Abstract
Milling machine is important equipment during post-harvest in rice farming as the quality and
quantity of produce for consumption and by-product is dependent to the process of milling; but the
commercial rice milling machine is costly. This leads to the development of low-cost rice milling
machine with a capacity of 12 kg/hr. powered by a 3hp electric motor. The machine consists of feeding
unit, milling unit, and cleaning unit. However, the efficacy of the milling machine should not be
compromise by the cost. Therefore, the mill is evaluated by milling efficiency of paddy varieties,
percentage of whole kernel, cleaning efficiency, and shelling capacity in four varieties of paddy namely;
NE L-42, NE 2, F 55, and OFADA. The moisture content of each paddy variety to be tested is within the
range of 11.99%-12.99%. From the data, the shelling efficiency of the machine ranges from 61%-64%;
while the whole kernel percentage ranges from 84%-86%. The percentage of the machine in the given
parameters proved its overall efficiency on the provided capacity scale.
Trends Sci. 202x; xx(xx): xxxxx 2 of 4

Keywords: Efficiency, Milling machine, Moisture content, Paddy

Introduction
In a study, an ideal milling process yields to a 20% husk, 8-12% bran, and 68-72% percent of
milled rice. As Philippines is a tropical country and the location is strategic for rice farming, and
considering the roughly 72% of rice produce, it is expected for the country to be one of the top exporters
of rice produce. However, according to Sen. Ralph Recto, an estimated 17% of the annual paddy yield is
wasted due to the absence of enough post-harvest facilities and poor practice; that leads the country to
import rice. The availability of modernized milling machine in the market is not the problem, hence, the
accessibility of farmers to the costly machine is. Just like the Philippines, Nigeria also encountered such
cost-related problem, this leads to the development of the low-cost rice milling machine.
The low-cost milling machine has a capacity of 12 kg/hr. and powered by a 3hp electric motor. It
consists of feeding unit, milling unit, and cleaning unit. The machine is constructed with a hopper, hopper
shelling drum, drum shaft, magnet, transmission belt, pulley, shaft, impeller, Perspex, tube, prime mover,
and body frame assembly. However, the underlying factor for the machine to be utilized in small scale
milling process is the efficiency. The determination of the efficiency of the machine is through the use of
parameters such as percentage of broken kernel, milling efficiency, hulling efficiency.
The test does not just rely on the machine itself, the result is also dependent on the variety of rice
paddy to undergo the milling process and the moisture content. Moisture content refers to the water
content of a paddy expressed in percentage. The standardized moisture content of a paddy is 14%.
However for the study 11.00%-12.99% moisture content is used to test the flexibility of the milling
machine. The moisture content is taken into consideration since the results of the parameters are affected
by the moisture content. Higher moisture content results to poor grain quality while low moisture causes
losses due to grain cracking and breakage.
The objective of rice milling goes beyond removal of husk and bran layer of the rice kernel; hence it
also determines the quality of rice produce and quantity of milled rice and bran. Milling also affects the
nutritional value of rice as germ and bran layers are removed during milling. The degree of milling is
directly proportional to the nutritional losses of the produce. The higher the degree of milling, the greater
losses in lipids, protein and fiber, and ash; however, carbohydrates increases with the degree of milling.
Although milling is the last step in rice farming before the produce hits the market, it is one of the most
important processes involved in rice production.
Materials and methods
In this study, four varieties of paddy namely, the NE L-42, NE 2, F 55, and OFADA with moisture
content of 11.99%-12.99% will be milled using the low-cost rice milling machine. These varieties are
selected to evaluate the performance of the rice milling machine with inputs in varying moisture content.
The efficacy of the machine will be determined by the output, in terms of milling efficiency of paddy
varieties, percentage of whole kernel, cleaning efficiency, and shelling capacity. The gathered data will be
utilized to conclude the efficacy of the low-cost milling machine.

Results and discussion

Table 1: The Parameters in Determining the Overall Efficiency of the Milling Machine at 11.00%-
12.99% moisture content in %
PARAMETERS NE L-42 NE 2 F 55 OFADA
Shelling recovery of paddy 76 75 72 70
Shelling efficiency 64 66 64 61
Whole kernel efficiency 84 86 86 85

In Table 1, the gathered numerical data consisting of percentage of shelling recovery of paddy,
shelling efficiency, and whole kernel efficiency are tabulated. In terms of shelling recovery of paddy, the
NE L-42 is recorded to have the highest percentage. While in shelling efficiency, NE 2 is the highest,
that’s means it is the fastest variety to loosen hulls once processed in the machine. In the whole kernel
Trends Sci. 202x; xx(xx): xxxxx 3 of 4

efficiency, NE 2 and F 55 have the highest percentage that is equivalent to least percentage in terms of
broken kernels, and most probably, to be marked as good quality grains in the market.
Based on the results from the three parameters in testing the efficacy of the machine, it exceeded the
50% passing mark. Therefore, the low-cost milling machine serves its purpose and functions accordingly
in the chosen varieties of paddy with moisture content of 11.00%-12.99%. However, the milling capacity
which is 12kg/hr. is lesser compared to the commercial milling machine capacity that is 230kg/hr. The
66% hulling efficiency is also lower than the 85% of the machine in market. Therefore, the low-cost
milling machine is applicable for small scale milling process.

90
80
70
60
Shelling Recovery of Paddy
50
Shelling Efficiency
40
30 Whole Kernel Efficiency

20
10
0
NE L-42 NE 2 F 55 OFADA

Fig.1: A graphical representation of the data gathered from the parameters used in the study
Conclusions
The paddy and the milling machine are co-dependent. Based on the numerical data, the
performance of the milling machine is dependent to the variety of paddy and moisture content. An
excessive moisture content of paddy results to a low quality output of the mill, while less moisture
content results to the high percentage of broken kernel. The ratio of by-product and milled produce is
determined by the mill; As well as the nutritional value of the rice relies on the degree of milling.
Therefore, efficient milling equipment is significant in post-harvest stage of rice production.
In terms of the efficiency of the low-cost rice milling machine, referring to the tabulated data it is
effectively serves its purpose. However, the efficiency of this machine is based on the scale of its
application. Considering the capacity that is 12 kg. Per hour, it can be efficiently utilize in small scale
milling process with rice varieties that has moisture content that does not exceed the standard moisture
content for paddy. But, in terms of large scale milling process, it is not considered to be efficient, and
time consuming; although it does not affect the produce quality.
To sum it up, the low-cost milling machine can be essential to local farmers if the capacity per hour
is tripled. Although, it can be used in commercial purposes, for small work load, there is a need for
improvement for the machine to be economically efficient. It is also stated that the sample varieties are
rice varieties from Nigeria; there is a need to test the efficiency of this machine in the paddy varieties
harvested from the Philippines; to determine the efficacy of its utilization in the country.

Acknowledgements
The completion of this study is made possible by the guidance and instruction of Engineer Kuinee
Olaget, an instructor in Methods of Research for Mechanical Engineering. The researcher extends the
appreciation towards Pangasinan State University-Urdaneta City Campus for allowing this research about
agriculture to be conducted. For the numerical data of this study, acknowledgement to Olayide Adetunji
who authored the research entitled “Development of Low Cost Rice Milling Machine.”
Trends Sci. 202x; xx(xx): xxxxx 4 of 4

References
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Names of 5-7 referees

1. Michael J. Rothrock Jr., Senior Researcher at Agricultural Research Service, United States of
Americal, www.frontiers.org
2. Andrew C. Micciche, Researcher at University of Arkansas, United States of America,
www.frontiers.org
3. Olayide R. Adetunji, Researcher at Federal University of Agriculture, Nigeria,
adetunjiolayide@gmai.com
4. Kowshik Kumar Saha, Researcher at Bangladesh Agricultural University, Bangladesh,
www.researchgate.net
5. Muhammad Nurdiansyah, Researcher at Bogor Agricultural University, Indonesia,
nurdiansyahipb@gmail.com
6. Tajuddin Bantacut, Researcher at Bogor Agricultural University, Indonesia,
bantacuttajudin@gmail.com