.png){kind=logo}
4 hours ago
1
Upgrade to High-Speed Internet for only ₱1499/month!
Enjoy up to 100 Mbps fiber broadband, perfect for browsing, streaming, and gaming.
Visit Suniway.ph to learn
December 19, 2025 | 8:00am
MANILA, Philippines — In the Philippines, it is common to see local farmers in agricultural communities spread out their palay on the roadside to dry them out in the sun. There are drying facilities available in certain places, but average farmers do not have access to such mass production equipment so they resort to the traditional sun-drying method — a practice inadequate during prolonged rainfall or cloudy days.
This system can prove challenging, considering that the country is vulnerable to tropical cyclones with an average of 22 typhoons annually. During these natural disasters, which have increased through the years due to climate change, local farmers face the challenge of drying their grains of rice properly. This impediment poses a significant impact on their livelihood, as well as on the agricultural industry in general.
“It degrades the quality of grain and reduces the income of our farmers. The failure to reduce the moisture content from newly harvested grain results in mold infection and brings about spoilage. So, around 408,764 metric tons of palay, which equates to 4.5% of the harvest in the Philippines, go to waste,” said young Filipino inventor John Dence Flores, a De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) graduate.
Motivated to address postharvest losses during rainy seasons and power outages in rural areas, the young Filipino inventor recently introduced a portable and sustainable system which allows farmers to dry palay all year round.
Offering a practical solution to the recurring problem, the Industrial Design graduate conceptualized and created Anihon, a drying system which is versatile, efficient, and affordable.
'First of its kind'
Under the mentorship of his college thesis adviser and then-course program chairperson Romeo Catap Jr., Flores engaged in months of research. These included a series of on-site observations, as well as surveys and interviews with the farmers of Gerry Rice Mill from his hometown in Albay.
He was likewise able to build a working prototype with guidance from engineers Leon Garcia and Jaycee Billiones and with support from Benilde Industrial Design educators Johann Kristian Mangussad, Noel Nikko Cagurangan, and Marlon Barnuevo.
“Anihon offers continuous drying of palay for small farms and local cooperatives, who need a weather-independent, simple machine which contributes to reducing the risk associated with unpredictable weather conditions,” Flores explained.
With Anihon, farmers can increase production in far-flung areas and communities, thus helping farmers who do not have access to mass dryers earn a decent living from their harvests.
A first of its kind, Anihon offers sustainable drying with its hybrid electric and used waste oil system. It reduces carbon emissions.
What’s more: Anihon introduces user-centric features, to include oil gauges and intuitive button designs, as well as tempered glass for visibility of operations. This allows the machine to be easily managed even by one person.
Key components include four trays which can accommodate a maximum of 25 kilograms of wet palay each, plus a tank that can be filled with up to four liters of used cooking oil.
During power outages, Anihon can be used through its manual pugon (furnace) option with the help of an ignited carbon material.
Overall, it offers eight hours of continuous premium drying with precision that assures consistent moisture reduction for improved quality. It is time-efficient with the dryer’s rapid cycle and quick turnaround — perfect for small farms.
Flores submitted his proposal as a capstone project in the completion of his bachelor’s degree. After the thesis proper, he sent the machine home to Aklan, where the same farmers who took part in his study were able to utilize the equipment for their own production.
Currently, Flores is working to further enhance and develop his invention.
“There is a clear imperative to expand and accommodate different grain varieties, such as wheat, beans, maize, sunflower seeds, rapeseeds, sorghum seeds, and others, to meet the evolving needs of agricultural farmers and the demands of the industry,” he stressed.
He likewise noted the need to further explore other sources of power, such as solar or wind, to adapt to the ever-changing sustainable and clean energy demands.
RELATED: 5 things you didn't know Filipinos designed, invented
