Implementation of Rice Threshing Machine Technology for Improving Production Capacity and Operational Efficiency in the Dalanta Farmers Group of Boangmanalu Village

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FORMOSA NEWS - Medan - Mechanized Threshing Triples Rice Processing Speeds and Reduces Post-Harvest Losses in Rural North Sumatra. A community-led technology initiative successfully modernized post-harvest rice processing for local farmers in Pakpak Bharat Regency, North Sumatra. Researchers from Universitas Negeri Medan introduced a mechanical rice threshing machine to the Dalanta Merpulung Farmers’ Group in Boangmanalu Village during a multiphase intervention conducted between June 2025 and July 2026. Led by Siti Ulgari alongside Sabda Dian Nurani Siahaan, Saronom Silaban, Juniar Hutahaean, Choms Gary Ganda Tua Sibarani, Mena Fadillia Lukman, Purwandari Nur Tristianingsih, and Lenti Susanna Saragih, the team demonstrated that mechanical threshing increased grain processing capacity from 20–30 kilograms per hour to 100–150 kilograms per hour while drastically cutting harvest times and operational expenses.

The Challenge of Post-Harvest Efficiency in Indonesian Agriculture

Indonesia remains one of the world's leading agricultural producers, with rice serving as the fundamental staple crop for national food security and rural livelihoods. National data indicates Indonesia produced 53.14 million tons of rice in 2024, yet imported 4.52 million tons in the same period. Addressing efficiency gaps in domestic agricultural supply chains is vital for long-term food self-sufficiency. In smallholder agricultural areas like Pakpak Bharat Regency, traditional harvesting methods create significant bottlenecks. Prior to the intervention, the 20 active members of the Dalanta Merpulung Farmers’ Group, led by Torus Boangmanalu, relied on manual foot threshing over improvised bamboo tables. A single 0.5-hectare yield produces roughly 2,250 kilograms of paddy, which required between 75 and 112.5 manual working hours—equivalent to 9 to 14 working days. Furthermore, conventional manual threshing led to post-harvest grain losses of 5% to 10% due to incomplete separation from the stalks, while increasing labor costs as farmers hired additional manual hands.

Methodological Approach to Technology Transfer
The Universitas Negeri Medan team implemented a structured, multi-stage community engagement framework designed to ensure sustainable technology adoption:

• Preparation: Initial field visits established technical needs, resulting in the assembly, testing, and transport of a dedicated mechanical thresher from Universitas Negeri Medan to Boangmanalu Village on June 1, 2026.
  
• Socialization and Handover: On June 20, 2025, a formal orientation session was held with 20 participating farmers, LPPM Universitas Negeri Medan facilitators, and research leaders, followed by the official transfer of machine ownership.
  
• Training and Practical Fieldwork: Researchers provided theoretical instruction on machine mechanics, safety procedures, and regular maintenance, followed by hands-on operational practice during live threshing operations.
  
• Assistance and Independent Evaluation: On July 16, 2026, researchers monitored independent machine usage by the farmers. A comprehensive evaluation on July 23, 2026, assessed productivity metrics, labor cost savings, and operational self-reliance.
  

Key Productivity and Operational Results
The introduction of the mechanical thresher delivered measurable improvements across all primary harvesting metrics:

• Dramatic Increase in Threshing Capacity: Processing output rose from the manual rate of 20–30 kg/hour to 100–150 kg/hour, effectively increasing threshing speed by up to five times.
  
• Reduced Labor and Processing Time: Total harvest processing time was cut from up to 14 days down to a fraction of the time, allowing farmers to reallocate labor and reduce hired wage expenses.
  
• Lower Post-Harvest Grain Losses: Mechanical separation resulted in cleaner grain collection, significantly reducing the 5%–10% material waste typical of traditional bamboo threshing.
  
• Operator Autonomy: Final evaluations confirmed that all 20 participating farmers successfully acquired the skills needed to operate, clean, and maintain the machinery independently without external supervision.
  

Real-World Impact and Broader Implications
The results highlight how targeted mechanical intervention can modernize smallholder agricultural systems, support rural economic resilience, and advance broader developmental goals. By lowering production costs and protecting grain yields, smallholder farmers retain higher profit margins. The initiative aligns with Indonesia's national development frameworks, including the National Research Master Plan (RIRN) for food security and the national Asta Cita initiative focusing on village-based economic growth. Furthermore, the project directly advances United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).

Researcher Profile
Siti Ulgari, S.Pd., M.Pd. is an academic and researcher at Universitas Negeri Medan, Indonesia. Specializing in educational technology, applied agricultural innovation, and community outreach, her work focuses on empowering rural agricultural groups through practical technology transfer and sustainable mechanical solutions.

Source
Siti Ulgari, S.Pd., M.Pd., bersama Sabda Dian Nurani Siahaan, Saronom Silaban, Juniar Hutahaean, Choms Gary Ganda Tua Sibarani, Mena Fadillia Lukman, Purwandari Nur Tristianingsih, dan Lenti Susanna Saragih. Implementation of Rice Threshing Machine Technology for Improving Production Capacity and Operational Efficiency in the Dalanta Farmers Group of Boangmanalu Village. Asian Journal of Community Services (AJCS). Vol. 5, No. 8, Tahun 2026, halaman 565-580
DOI : https://doi.org/10.55927/ajcs.v5i8.50
URL: https://journalajcs.my.id/index.php/ajcs