In recent years, the total loss rate index value in harvesting machinery product standard has become more rigorous in China. The Technical Conditions for Full-feed Combine Harvester (JB/T 5117-2017) were amended in 2017 to reduce the loss rate of rice harvester from 3 to less than 2.8 per cent, and that of wheat harvester to less than 1.2 per cent. The newly amended standard of Corn Harvester (GB/T 21962-2020) has reduced the index of total loss rate of corn ear from 4 to less than 3.5 per cent and that of corn kernel from 5 to less than 4 per cent. The indices in national or industry standards, which take into account the entire industry, have a relatively less stringent value, which is the minimum industry requirement. In actual practice, internal control standards in most enterprises are stricter than the set value.
Although the loss-reduction capacity of mechanized harvesting of main grain crops in China has gradually improved and loss rates of harvesting machinery are above the basic standard, some factors still affect loss-reduction performance. These are mainly related to awareness of loss reduction, financial support, extension, machine operation and standards requirements.
In order to reduce food loss and waste through mechanization, policies and measures are made to:
1. Enhanced publicity and supervision of socialized/public services
To help farmers and operators reduce food loss and waste, it is necessary to change existing mindsets by disseminating information on methods to measure grain harvest loss rates. The General Provisions for Socialized Agricultural Machinery Services should be enacted at the national level and made available to farmers for accessing socialized services and used as an important standard.
2. Augmented support for research and development in priority technologies
In conjunction with the financial and science and technology sectors, research and development on grain-saving and loss-reduction technologies should be intensified, funding support for scientific research increased and a high-quality, efficient and safe technology and supply system set up for the entire grain industry chain. Full support should be provided from the major scientific research projects such as the National Key Innovation and Research and Development Program for Agricultural Machinery Equipment. Research on basic materiel and key components and technologies for agricultural machinery should be encouraged, intelligent and precision equipment for grain operations developed, and grain loss-reduction technology development promoted.
3. Targeted financial incentives
Increased financial support is needed for machinery and tools that help reduce grain loss and waste. For example, for the purpose of financial support, preferential treatment can be given to rice trans-planters, and a technical distinction made for the discharge device of precision seeders so that the finger clip seeder that ensures precision seeding can be classified separately. For advanced or intelligent no-tillage seeders, structural parameters can be added in the classification or it can be classified separately. Subsidies for machines and tools with relatively outdated seeding technological parameters can be gradually reduced or withdrawn.
4. Improving grain drying capacity in production areas
Local government assistance for the construction of drying centers should be strengthened. The channels of support should be broadened with a focus on key rice and corn production counties and the improvement of grain drying capacity in less developed areas should be promoted.
Source：
[1] Role of Mechanization in Reducing Food Loss and Waste in China.
