Feasibility Study on Adapting Biomass Powered Rice Dryer for Rice Farmers in Sabah, Malaysia
Lead Participant:
RICEINC UK LTD
Abstract
Our project is to conduct a feasibility study on whether or not it is possible to adapt our company's biomass powered rice drying service to the artisanal rice farmers based throughout the states of Malaysia. Our company, Rice Inc is a social enterprise on a mission to empower smallholder rice farmers out of poverty by providing them with sustainable agritech.
70% of farmers in Southeast Asia are stuck in poverty because they lack access to proper post-harvest technology and use traditional techniques to dry, store and mill rice which results in up to 30% of it wasted. For example, sun-drying of rice after harvest causes about half this loss (15%). We currently run a rice drying service in Letpadan, Myanmar with biomass powered rice dryers with a pay-per-use model for farmers. This reduces their losses and provides them a higher quality crop.
Similarly, smallholder artisanal farmers throughout Malaysia face systemic poverty due to a lack of access to proper agriculture technologies. However, the rice they grow is extremely unique but is untapped as the rice can retail in urban Malaysia at prices 300% higher but they sell very little due to the high wastage caused by poverty.
Hence, our project is to conduct a feasibility study on adapting our biomass powered rice dryers and service for the artisanal rice farmers throughout Sabah and other states of Malaysia to help them reduce their losses and increase their income. This includes studies on the ground in Malaysia with the farmers to identify challenges and market conditions. Speaking with partners, technical experts and manufacturers on adapting our technology. This idea is innovative because it is likely to make it commercial viable, we would have to adapt our technology for example, reducing the capacity of our dryers or making it mobile from it's stationary structure which requires technological innovations. Furthermore, we might have to innovate our business models such as changing from a pay-per-use model to rent to own models to make it financially viable.
If successful, farmers would be able to increase their artisanal rice output and earn more income in a sustainable way and get access to better farming technology. Finally as a company, we would be able to get a new region for expansion and potentially new variations of our existing service and technology that can be used for the future.
70% of farmers in Southeast Asia are stuck in poverty because they lack access to proper post-harvest technology and use traditional techniques to dry, store and mill rice which results in up to 30% of it wasted. For example, sun-drying of rice after harvest causes about half this loss (15%). We currently run a rice drying service in Letpadan, Myanmar with biomass powered rice dryers with a pay-per-use model for farmers. This reduces their losses and provides them a higher quality crop.
Similarly, smallholder artisanal farmers throughout Malaysia face systemic poverty due to a lack of access to proper agriculture technologies. However, the rice they grow is extremely unique but is untapped as the rice can retail in urban Malaysia at prices 300% higher but they sell very little due to the high wastage caused by poverty.
Hence, our project is to conduct a feasibility study on adapting our biomass powered rice dryers and service for the artisanal rice farmers throughout Sabah and other states of Malaysia to help them reduce their losses and increase their income. This includes studies on the ground in Malaysia with the farmers to identify challenges and market conditions. Speaking with partners, technical experts and manufacturers on adapting our technology. This idea is innovative because it is likely to make it commercial viable, we would have to adapt our technology for example, reducing the capacity of our dryers or making it mobile from it's stationary structure which requires technological innovations. Furthermore, we might have to innovate our business models such as changing from a pay-per-use model to rent to own models to make it financially viable.
If successful, farmers would be able to increase their artisanal rice output and earn more income in a sustainable way and get access to better farming technology. Finally as a company, we would be able to get a new region for expansion and potentially new variations of our existing service and technology that can be used for the future.
Lead Participant | Project Cost | Grant Offer |
|---|---|---|
Participant |
||
| RICEINC UK LTD |
People |
ORCID iD |
| Lincoln Lee (Project Manager) |