Havana, Cuba.- The first 10 self-propelled rice harvesters, with a capacity of seven tons each, are being built at the Heroes del 26 de Julio agricultural implements factory, in the eastern Cuban province of Holguin.

These machineries has its antecedent in a prototype created by Cuban specialists, who have had the help of a company from the People’s Republic of China, according to the information published by Granma newspaper.

Engineer Julio Gallego Torres, a specialist in the mechanical company, announced that 60% of the components used in its production are imported, including engines, pumps and rolling elements.

He indicated that the rest of the parts and pieces are designed and manufactured in the Holguin industry, standing out the metallic structures corresponding to the chassis, the tanks, platforms of support of motors and parts of the mats.

Gallego pointed out that these harvesters were designed according to the requirements of rice and ideal for work in high humidity conditions, as is the case of Cuba, where towed equipment is not operational.

Of its technological innovations he highlighted its operation by hydrostatic systems, which is possible by the installation of an internal combustion engine that makes feasible the operation of a series of hydraulic motors.

He explained that these are machines designed to increase productivity, which will receive the rice from the large harvesters and take it to the vehicles waiting next to the fields and thus avoid interruptions in the cutting work.

The systematic contribution of the “July 26” factory to the rice program can also be seen in the delivery of lots of self-propelled transporters with a capacity of 3.5 tons, ploughs and harrows for land preparation and cultivation, in addition to carts of