PhilRice reminds farmers to harvest rice at the right time

SCIENCE CITY MUÑOZ (PIA) — The Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) is reminding farmers to harvest rice crops at the right time.

This is in line with the agency’s PalayCheck system, especially Key Check 8, which focuses on harvesting rice crops at the right time.

PhilRice Rice Engineering and Mechanization Division Supervising Science Research Specialist Elmer Bautista said proper timing of harvest results in good quality rice grains, leading to higher market prices and consumer preference.

“If harvesting is done too early, many grains can be wasted, resulting in lower rice yield during milling, and it can also cause crop losses. If harvesting is done too late, many grains can fall off, be damaged during milling and lead to crop losses,” he explains.

That’s why PhilRice shared the recommendations for a good rice harvest at the right time.

First, farmers are advised to dry the field one to two weeks before the expected harvest date.

“This is to achieve uniform ripeness and ripening of grains, to prevent wetting of grains during harvest and to make handling in the field convenient,” Bautista said.

Second, it is recommended to harvest rice at proper maturity when 85 to 90 percent (if hand harvesting) or 90 to 95 percent (if using a combine) of the grains are golden yellow.

Third, farmers must harvest with the correct grain moisture content (MC).

Bautista recommended using a grain moisture meter, if available. “During the dry season you harvest the rice with a moisture content of 18 to 21 percent; 20 to 25 percent moisture content during the wet season,” he noted.

Finally, after manual harvesting, farmers are encouraged to thresh the rice within a day during the wet season and within two days during the dry season.

Bautista emphasized the importance of not keeping the harvested crop in the field for more than a day as this can lead to heat build-up, grain discoloration and low-quality white rice.

He added that farmers should avoid threshing dripping wet rice with a mechanical thresher to avoid losses due to poor cleaning and separation of the grain.

Farmers are also urged to observe the recommended threshing speed, 800 rpm for most power threshers, to ensure proper threshing and avoid grain damage.

“Perhaps more can be achieved with fast motor operation, but this will result in a higher fan speed, which will increase separation losses,” Bautista points out.

By following these recommendations, farmers can expect a decrease in crop losses; a reduction in loose and unripe grains; prevention of discoloration, cracking and grain breakage; as well as protection against pest damage.

For additional information, farmers may contact the PhilRice text center hotline at 0917-111-7423 or visit the official website at www.philrice.gov.ph. (CLJD/MAECR-PIA 3)