Fujian goes digital to store, process paddy

A container-sized mobile rice processing center has begun operations at a grain reserve firm in Fuzhou, capital of Fujian province, improving the region's emergency grain support system.

With a daily capacity of 100 metric tons of paddy — enough to feed roughly 150,000 people — the facility measures just 12 meters long, 2.4 meters wide and 2.8 meters high. The processing system, housed in a standard 40-foot container, integrates multiple steps, including threshing, dehusking and milling, into one unit.

"We have combined all the necessary functions into one system," said Xie Zeliang, general manager of Hubei Tianhe Machinery Co, the company based in Ezhou, Hubei province, that developed the equipment.

The mobile center can be activated with a single touch and is simple enough to be controlled via smartphone without technicians. Unlike conventional rice processing centers, which require major investments, long construction periods and large footprints, the mobile facility is more flexible, cost-effective and easy to deploy.

According to Xie, the system allows stored grain to be rapidly processed on-site, using capacity reserves in place of finished grain reserves.

"Our main clients include grain reserve enterprises and emergency support departments," he said.

Developed in the first half of last year, the mobile processing center produces rice that meets national staple food standards while maintaining a compact size and high output. The unit is already in use at a grain reserve facility in Fujian. The province's emergency grain support regulations encourage government-backed reserve grain enterprises to be equipped with emergency processing modules or small-scale processing devices.

While paddy can be stored for years, rice is prone to spoilage.

"In emergency situations, the ability to quickly process paddy into rice is critical," said Liu Yangbo, director of Ezhou's development and reform commission and grain bureau.

"When market supplies tighten, emergency processors can use this equipment to boost production and ease market pressures," Liu said. "In extreme cases, reserve warehouses can swiftly convert paddy into finished rice to directly supply the market."

Local governments plan to support companies with similar technologies through special funding, recruitment of research talent and favorable policy measures, he added.

Three years ago, as part of a provincial grain research project, the company assembled dedicated teams in machinery, engineering design and software development to create the mobile processing center.

"Although similar products exist, they have limitations such as insufficient capacity, incomplete processes that fail to meet food hygiene standards, or poor mobility," Xie said. "Our company will continue to upgrade its technology. For mobile processing equipment like this, we look forward to further policy support for both research and market development."

Liu Boqian contributed to this story.

liukun@chinadaily.com.cn