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Rice Mill

  

I am proud to say that we (Ton, Prangs brother) and I have finally finished our first rice mill. We saved a lot of time and money on not having to build a main building. Rather just adding to an existing one. We took Dad’s area for the cows which was just a roof. They just moved the cows out into the field. We had to clear out a lot of cow manure and add over hangs on the roof to prevent rain from coming in. We hired some guys from the village to get us wood and bamboo from the jungle for the walls. We then hired this father and his son to build and install the rice hulling machine. They really knew what they were doing and have done some sixty machines or more this year. This machine runs off a ten horse power motor, thus making us have to upgrade our main power service. We are still waiting for the new electrical service to be finished. Then we will do some test runs and then learn how to actually use the machine. As well as teach the people in the village how to use it too. It’s actually pretty basic. The machine takes the rice in its husk form. Sorts out all the rocks sticks and other things brought in from the field. Sends the rice through a series of rollers that break off the husk from the actual seed. Then it is sifted again before it goes through another series of rollers that then polish the seed creating white rice. It’s capable of both brown and white rice. But everyone seems to want white because of the taste. The brown rice is obviously more nutritious but lacks in taste. The shavings that are polished off from the brown rice are saved and fed to the pigs. Maybe that’s why the pigs taste so good?  They’re feeding the pigs all the polished off nutrients from the rice.  Anyways hopefully only in a couple of days or so we should have everything up and running and will have our first running rice mill.  Prangs family seems optimistic about running the mill and the villagers seems excited to have something near by for them to use.  We are all excited to be able to have such a practical resource available for everyone.