An Evaluation of Field Efficiency of a Developed Petrol Engine Powered Rice Harvester

Timothy Y. J., Yusuf D. D., Mohammed U. S., Isiaka M.

Abstract


To address the recurring issue of time-consuming and tedious rice harvesting faced by small-scale farmers in Northern Nigeria, this work aimed to develop a locally fabricated rice harvester to improve efficiency and reduce drudgery and losses. The existing options, manual methods using sickles and knives and the costly importation of mechanical harvesters, were not ideal. A self-propelled petrol engine rice harvester was developed and fabricated in the workshop of the Department of Agricultural and Bio-resources engineering at ABU Zaria. Performance evaluation of the harvester was conducted at the Institute of Agriculture Research farm for the 2020 and 2021 wet seasons, considering three independent variables (speed, moisture, and height) in relation to the dependent variable (field efficiency). Statistical analysis using SAS 2009 software was performed on the data collected for 2020, 2021, and the pooled results. The findings showed that speed, moisture, and height significantly influenced the actual field capacity (FCA). The highest FCA (0.224 ha/hr) was achieved at a height of 15cm and moisture of 27% with a speed of 4m/s during the 2021 wet season. Speed had a significant effect on field efficiency (FE), and the highest FE (91.1%) was obtained at a speed of 3m/s, moisture of 13%, and height of 20cm. The study suggests using a high torque prime mover to drive the harvester and replacing belt mechanisms with chains to eliminate belt slippage issues during harvesting. Overall, the machine is recommended for use by small-scale farmers in Northern Nigeria. In conclusion, this work successfully developed and evaluated a locally fabricated rice harvester, offering an efficient solution to the challenges faced by small-scale farmers during rice harvesting in the region.

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References


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