Modeling of fresh paddy aeration on transporting barges in Mekong Delta, Vietnam

The Mekong Delta is regarded as the granary of Vietnam, with an annual production of 24.1 million tons (2023). Currently, fresh paddy is transported directly from farmers’ fields to drying facilities or rice mills. Given the extensive river and canal system in the Mekong Delta, the majority of paddy (up to 92%) is transported by barges. While barge transportation is more costeffective (91,000 VND/ton for a 100 km distance) compared to truck transportation (269,000 VND/ton), it has significant drawbacks, such as a longer transportation time of 3 to 5 days. Moreover, because the paddy is wet during transport, it is prone to discoloration (yellowing), which reduces its quality. To address this issue, this research developed an experimental paddy aeration model as a foundation for implementing aeration on barges during transportation. The model was tested with 1.4 tons of fresh paddy, specifically the DT80 variety, in Cai Lay, Tien Giang province. Key parameters monitored and analyzed included paddy temperature, moisture content, ambient conditions, and grain quality. The model was tested with a specific airflow rate of 129 ± 23 m3/h per ton. The paddy temperature in the aeration model was maintained at 28.8°C, similar to the ambient temperature of 28.3°C. As a result, the whiteness of the aerated paddy was preserved at 3.6% after three days, whereas it decreased from 3.6% to 3.2% in paddy transported without aeration. The application of aeration helped reduce quality losses, particularly discoloration, caused by the high temperatures of fresh paddy during transportation.