Manila Times.net
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THE Department of Agriculture said it would increase the use of solar and wind energy to fuel various postharvest and mechanized agriculture equipment to areas that do not have access to traditional power sources.
Ricardo Cachuela, Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization director, said the use of stand-alone solar and wind energy systems can allow farmers in far-flung areas to power their small farm operations.
“Far-flung farming areas are mostly impoverished and their access to electricity and fuel is very limited or even non-existent. If they have standalone solar or wind energy systems, they can improve their farming operations by using some machineries like dryers or water pumps which usually need fuel or electricity to operate,” Cachuela said.
In the development of solar energy for drying, PhilMech has designed two prototypes, which include the use of curved steel to harness the sun’s energy, and mirror strips glued to a parabolic shaped board. Traditional solar furnaces use curved mirrors but these are expensive and not locally available.
PhilMech wants the solar furnaces to be made from locally available materials for easy fabrication in the Philippines.
“Using locally available materials would make it easier to manufacture the solar furnace once it is ready for commercialization,” Cachuela said.
In the development of wind energy, PhilMech is set to expand the testing of prototypes of small windmills in farming areas where there are farmer-cooperators willing and capable to test the technology.
Based on PhilMech’s evaluation, the most qualified prospective cooperators are located in the provinces of Nueva Ecija, Aurora, Laguna, Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Tarlac and Lanao del Sur. PhilMech has begun pilot tests in Aurora, Negros Occidental and Laguna this year.
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