International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Applications

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Potato Harvester for Smallholder Producers

Received: 25 July 2015    Accepted: 11 August 2015    Published: 26 September 2015
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Abstract

The post harvest loss of potato in Ethiopia is more than 25% which includes harvesting loss. To minimize the harvesting loss, providing appropriate equipment (technology) is essential. As a result, a study was carried out to develop and select suitable potato digger for small holder potato producers. Comparisons were conducted on three types of potato diggers; traditional plow, AIRIC potato (ground nut) digger and third newly developed potato digger (BD digger). Bio physical and socio economic data were taken using a structured data sheet. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and non parametric statistical tests. The BD digger gave the highest average exposing efficiency (92.40%) and lowest tuber damage (0.81%). The average digging loss for BD digger, with 0.25 ha/hr working capacity, was the lowest (7.61%). The Kruskal Wallis analysis revealed highest positive rank sum (107) for the digger. Overall, farmers’ ranked BD digger as best performing. The financial analysis indicated that BD digger has a net benefit advantage of ETB 522 in one harvesting season from a quarter hectare of land. Thus, it is important to promote the technology as a means of post harvest loss reduction.

DOI 10.11648/j.ijmea.20150306.11
Published in International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Applications (Volume 3, Issue 6, December 2015)
Page(s) 103-108
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Potato Digger, Exposing Efficiency, Digging Loss, Kruskal Wallis, Likert Scale

References
[1] Hakan Kibar, 2012. Design and Management of Postharvest Potato (Solanum Tuberosum L.) Storage Structures. Ordu Univ. J. Sci. Tech., 2(1):23-48.
[2] Vita and IPF (Irish Potato Federation), 2014. Potatoes in Development: A Model of Collaboration for Farmers in Africa. Pdf doc.
[3] Tesfay, A., 2008. Potato Production Manual. Amharic Version printed in 1999 Ethiopian Calendar.
[4] CSA, 2003. Ethiopian Agricultural Sample Enumeration 2001/02. Results for Amhara Region. Statistical Report on Area and Production of Crops. Part II. A.
[5] Tewari V. K., A. Ashok Kumar, Satya Prakash Kumar, Brajesh Nare, 2012. Farm mechanization status of West Bengal in India. Journal of Agricultural Science and Review, 1(6):139-146.
[6] Akeson W. R., Fox S. D., Stout E. L., 1974. Journal of the American Society Sugar Beet Technologists, 18:125–135. Dawit, A., 2004. Agricultural Technology evaluation, adoption and marketing. Part 2. Proceedings of the workshop held to discuss the socioeconomic research results of 1998-2002. August 6-8, 2002, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, ERO, 2004.
[7] BoFED (Bureau of Finance and Economic Development), 2007. Annual statistics for Amhara National Regional State. Bahir Dar, Ethiopia.
[8] Kaburaki, H., and Kisu, M., 1959. Studies on Cutting Characteristics of Plows. J. Kanto-tosan Agric. Exp. Stn. (Translation 79, Scientific Information Dep., NIAE, Silsoe, UK).
[9] Sommer, M., 1999. Animal Traction in Rain Fed Agriculture: In Africa and South America Eschborn.
[10] Newbauer, K., 1989. Agricultural Machinery, Prague.
Author Information
  • Bahir Dar Agricultural Mechanization and Food Science Research Centre, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia

  • Institute of Technology, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

  • Bahir Dar Agricultural Mechanization and Food Science Research Centre, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia

  • Institute of Technology, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia

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  • APA Style

    Dagninet Amare, Geta Kidanemariam, Wolelaw Endalew, Seyife Yilma. (2015). Potato Harvester for Smallholder Producers. International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Applications, 3(6), 103-108. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijmea.20150306.11

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    ACS Style

    Dagninet Amare; Geta Kidanemariam; Wolelaw Endalew; Seyife Yilma. Potato Harvester for Smallholder Producers. Int. J. Mech. Eng. Appl. 2015, 3(6), 103-108. doi: 10.11648/j.ijmea.20150306.11

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    AMA Style

    Dagninet Amare, Geta Kidanemariam, Wolelaw Endalew, Seyife Yilma. Potato Harvester for Smallholder Producers. Int J Mech Eng Appl. 2015;3(6):103-108. doi: 10.11648/j.ijmea.20150306.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijmea.20150306.11,
      author = {Dagninet Amare and Geta Kidanemariam and Wolelaw Endalew and Seyife Yilma},
      title = {Potato Harvester for Smallholder Producers},
      journal = {International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Applications},
      volume = {3},
      number = {6},
      pages = {103-108},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijmea.20150306.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijmea.20150306.11},
      eprint = {https://download.sciencepg.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijmea.20150306.11},
      abstract = {The post harvest loss of potato in Ethiopia is more than 25% which includes harvesting loss. To minimize the harvesting loss, providing appropriate equipment (technology) is essential. As a result, a study was carried out to develop and select suitable potato digger for small holder potato producers. Comparisons were conducted on three types of potato diggers; traditional plow, AIRIC potato (ground nut) digger and third newly developed potato digger (BD digger). Bio physical and socio economic data were taken using a structured data sheet. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and non parametric statistical tests. The BD digger gave the highest average exposing efficiency (92.40%) and lowest tuber damage (0.81%). The average digging loss for BD digger, with 0.25 ha/hr working capacity, was the lowest (7.61%). The Kruskal Wallis analysis revealed highest positive rank sum (107) for the digger. Overall, farmers’ ranked BD digger as best performing. The financial analysis indicated that BD digger has a net benefit advantage of ETB 522 in one harvesting season from a quarter hectare of land. Thus, it is important to promote the technology as a means of post harvest loss reduction.},
     year = {2015}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Potato Harvester for Smallholder Producers
    AU  - Dagninet Amare
    AU  - Geta Kidanemariam
    AU  - Wolelaw Endalew
    AU  - Seyife Yilma
    Y1  - 2015/09/26
    PY  - 2015
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijmea.20150306.11
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ijmea.20150306.11
    T2  - International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Applications
    JF  - International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Applications
    JO  - International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Applications
    SP  - 103
    EP  - 108
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2330-0248
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijmea.20150306.11
    AB  - The post harvest loss of potato in Ethiopia is more than 25% which includes harvesting loss. To minimize the harvesting loss, providing appropriate equipment (technology) is essential. As a result, a study was carried out to develop and select suitable potato digger for small holder potato producers. Comparisons were conducted on three types of potato diggers; traditional plow, AIRIC potato (ground nut) digger and third newly developed potato digger (BD digger). Bio physical and socio economic data were taken using a structured data sheet. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and non parametric statistical tests. The BD digger gave the highest average exposing efficiency (92.40%) and lowest tuber damage (0.81%). The average digging loss for BD digger, with 0.25 ha/hr working capacity, was the lowest (7.61%). The Kruskal Wallis analysis revealed highest positive rank sum (107) for the digger. Overall, farmers’ ranked BD digger as best performing. The financial analysis indicated that BD digger has a net benefit advantage of ETB 522 in one harvesting season from a quarter hectare of land. Thus, it is important to promote the technology as a means of post harvest loss reduction.
    VL  - 3
    IS  - 6
    ER  - 

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