BPRE develops copra moisture meter

By Sosimo Ma. Pablico

An agricultural engineer of the Bureau of Postharvest Research and Extension (BPRE), based in the Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija, has developed a moisture meter that will now prevent farmers from being cheated by copra traders who more often than not over estimate the moisture of their product by mere visual observation.

Coconut farmers normally are at the losing end because of the buying behavior of traders. The Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) estimated that farmers lose 1,600 to 2,000 per hectare every year due to over estimated moisture of copra.

Developed by Engr. Reynaldo P. Gregorio, the BPRE copra moisture meter is a digital device using 7-segment LED. It measures the 6 to 22 percent moisture content when its probe end (8 millimeters) is inserted to the copra. It is operated by a 9-volt battery.

Engr. Ofero A. Caparino of BPRE said his agency has been collaborating with PCA on the development of a moisture meter that is within the financial capability of farmers.

The PCA provided 58,000 and other materials for the development of the moisture meter. The first prototype was completed only recently and was introduced to the public during the recent anniversary celebration of BPRE.

Even as five units of the first prototype have been given to PCA for further field testing, a new prototype is now being developed. The first prototype costs 2,000. Caparino said the cost of the second prototype may reach 3,500 but it will be much lighter and easier to use. A similar imported moisture meter from Japan costs 35,000 to 42,000 each.

Gregorio expects the copra moisture meter to empower coconut farmers when they sell their copra, as a unit would directly indicate the moisture content of their product as a measure of its quality.

He hopes that the availability of locally manufactured copra moisture meter will trigger the implementation of trade regulations in copra trading and marketing, where buyers and traders should use moisture meter as one of the bases in determining copra quality.

At the same time, the availability of this device will pave the improvement of copra quality.

(For past columns, click http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/category/opinion/harvest-time/)

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