The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has officially introduced the Philippine’s First ever Salt Harvester in Occidental Mindoro made by Filipinos for the Filipinos.
Researchers from the DOST Industrial Technology Development Institute (DOST-ITDI) invented the salt harvester. Which funded through the Collaborative Research and Development to Leverage Philippine Economy (CRADLE) Program under the Science for Change Program. Specifically developed to mechanize the process of crushing, washing, and harvesting salt. Even during the rainy season in deep crystallizer saltern.
The Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD). The project’s oversight agency, and JALD Industries Corporation were both partners in this endeavor.
According to DOST-PCIEERD, the salt harvester can also shorten the harvesting time from months to just a few weeks, resolving the concerns of salt impurities contamination and economic losses.
Philippine’s First ever Salt Harvester
The machine was developed to substitute the time-consuming manual technique of crushing, piling. And hauling salt using rakes, cane baskets, and wheelbarrows for salt harvesting.
It also intends to boost the quality, productivity, and efficiency of deep crystallizer saltern solar salt processing.
Other solar salt producers utilizing deep crystallizer salterns can adopt the technology. Which not only helps the local salt industry but also the local fabrication sector.
“This initiative arose from the need to find a solution for reducing the time required to produce salt of higher quality.” This is how science and technology step in as a bearer of solutions at a time when we are facing supply challenges.” According to PCIEERD Executive Director Dr. Enrico C. Paringit.