Rice processing machines produced in developed countries are mostly unaffordable by rural farmers, hence there was need to develop cost effective/efficient machines produced from available local materials desirable in food industry that meets the need of the rural farmers. This study was to evaluate the performance of a developed rice dehusking/destoning machine at Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria. Minitab 16 was used for analysis of variance of two main factors [four paddy varieties Faro 35, Faro 44, Faro 55 and Ofada and five moisture content (MC) groups] to obtain its optimum operational parameters. Cleaning efficiency, coefficient of dehulling, coefficient of wholeness, dehulling efficiency, dehulling recovery and output capacity were optimum at 94.60%, 0.63, 0.85, 50.54%, 61.22% and 18.53 kg/h respectively. The effect of MC and test paddy variety on coefficient of wholeness and dehulling efficiency were significant while only MC effect was significant at on cleaning efficiency. paddy cleaner varieties had effect on rice quality, long and slender grains had more breakage than shorter grains. After further work of improvement, its coefficient of dehulling, dehulling efficiency and dehulling recovery were 0.82, 65 and 75% respectively.

The post-harvest system consists of a set of operations which cover the period from harvest through to consumption. An efficient post-harvest system aims to minimize losses and maintain the quality of the crop until it reaches the final consumer. When food losses are minimized, both food security and income increase, and this is of vital importance for small and medium farmers, particularly in developing countries. From a socio-economic point of view, the implementation of an efficient post-harvest system in any community must provide equitable benefit to all those involved in the system (Grolleaud, 2001).

To quantify dust exposure among the workers in four different industrial settings: rice mills, flour mills, oil mills, and tea factories and to compare the obtained data with the permissible exposure limit (PEL) of Indian Union Ministry of Labour as well as to compare the dust exposure across activities and seasons. RespiConTM particle sampler was used for collecting dust concentration in the breathing zone of the workers. In total, 149 workers participated in the study and 204 samples were collected. Samples were collected in the vicinity of different processing operations. Samples in the rice mills were collected for two consecutive years in two seasons; however samples from other industries were collected for 1 year. The results indicate that geometric mean (GM) of dust exposure was significantly (P < 0.0001) different among industrial settings. Respirable dust were 8.22, 5.76, 2.98, and 6.34mg m−3 and total dust exposure were 81.05, 111.02, 56.68, and 39.85mg m−3 in the rice mills, oil mills, flour mills, and tea factories, respectively. Considerable variations in dust exposure were observed in different activities in the rice and oil mills; however variation was relatively less in the flour mills and tea factories. In the rice mills, dust concentration was higher in winter than those obtained in autumn and it is significantly different (P < 0.05) for inhalable dust and total dust. Positive correlation was obtained in thoracic dust (r2 = 0.94) and inhalable dust (r2 = 0.97) with total dust and thoracic dust with inhalable dust (r2 = 0.89). The results show that majority of the workers are exposed to higher level of respirable dust as compared to the PEL, while total dust exposure to all the workers were higher than the PEL; thus, immediate reduction of dust exposure among the workers is necessary for preventing respiratory system impairment.

In order to increase the quality of locally produced rice, the artisanal parboiling process in West and Central Africa was reconceptualized. A novel parboiling unit was constructed using stainless steel (Inox 304) and fitted directly on an improved stove made from fired bricks. The heat profile at different locations in the unit, the physicochemical properties, cooking properties of the parboiled rice, and the fuel efficiency of the stove were evaluated and compared with that of the traditional system. The heat flow in the new unit was from the top to the bottom while the reverse occurred in the traditional unit. The percent impurities and heat‐damaged grains, swelling and water uptake ratios, amylose content, stickiness, and cohesiveness were lower for rice produced using the improved technology (IT) compared to the traditional technology (TT). Whole grains (%), lightness (L*), yellowness (b*), cooking time, viscosity were higher for rice produced using the IT compared to the TT. Most of physicochemical and cooking properties of rice produced using the IT were not different from that of premium quality imported rice and this was achieved when steaming time was between 20–25 min. The improved stove recorded a lower time to boil water and specific fuel consumption and a higher burning rate and firepower at the hot‐start high‐power phase compared to the traditional stove. Most end users rated the IT as easy and safe to use compared to the TT. The new technology was code‐named.

rubber roller husker had high husking energy efficiency compared to the impeller husker. Optimal husking ratio in terms of husking energy efficiency was also found to be optimal in terms of system cracked ratio and broken ratio for all tested paddy varieties uring paddy husking by paddy huskers, some compressive stresses are exerted to rice kernels. Rubber roll husker is a common type used for paddy husking in Iran, because of its better husking performance and less broken rice compared to blade-type huskers. In principle, the rubber roll husker consists of two rubber rollers. One has a fixed position, the other is adjustable to obtain the desired clearance between the two rollers.

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