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Comparative Performance of Commonly Used Open Drum Threshers for Rice in Bangladesh

M.M. Alam
Department of Farm Power and Machinery, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh

C.K. Saha
Department of Farm Power and Machinery, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh

M.I.N Khan
Jonior Consultant, EADS, Dhanmondi R/A, Dhaka-1209, Bangladesh

M. Al-Amin
Agricultural Engineer, Department of Agricultural Extension, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Threshing is one of the most important post harvest operation of grains. Along with Traditional threshing, mechanical threshing methods such as Pedal threshing, Open -drum power threshing and Close -drum power threshing are being used in Bangladesh. In this study cost, capacities and benefit-cost ratios of the different open drum threshers and cost of manual threshing were calculated and compared along with different economic and financial indicators to appraise financial profitability of these methods. Considering timeliness of post-harvest operations, cost of threshing, labour crisis at peak harvesting and threshing period, unavailability of design and price of mechanical threshers, open-drum threshers are becoming popular among the farmers and substituting traditional threshing options. The farida open drum thresher model had given the highest threshing (359 kg /hr) and throughput (757 kg/hr) capacities. All other open drum thresher models also had substantially higher threshing and throughput capacities over manual threshing. Considering operating cost and benefit-cost ratio, Farida and BRRI model open drum threshers appeared as preferred options for the farmers compared to Boby and MAWTS models, though cylinder loss was high in Farida and BRRI models than MAWTS model. The substitution proposition by Partial Budget analysis clearly showed the economic profitability of BRRI model over other open drum models. But from the break-even analysis, the Farida and Boby model open drum threshers were found economical for farmers of Bangladesh having even very smaller land holding of 1 ha. The BRRI model was also found profitable for farmers having up to 2.5 ha of land. Therefore, considering the technical and financial aspects, Farida and Boby model open drum threshers may be recommended for all categories of farm holdings of Bangladesh.

Keywords: Rice, Performance, Drum, Threshers, Developed.

Location: Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, Gazipur.

Start Date: 00-00-2001

End Date: 00-00-2001

Program Area: Postharvest and Agro-processing

Commodity: Performance evaluation

Objectives:

1. To study the performance of different open drum threshers for rice developed by Farida, Boby, BRRI and MAWTS.

2. To recommend best suited open drum thresher or threshers for the farmers of Bangladesh.

Methodology:

For the present study, commonly used open-drum threshers developed by BRRI, MAWTS, Baby and Farida Engineering have been selected for evaluating their comparative performance. The selected threshers were tested in Aus season 2001 (during the last week of August to first week of September) at the farm Machinery and Post-harvest Technology division workshop of BRRI, Gazipur. According to the Regional Network for Agricultural Machinery (RNAM) test code data related to crop variety, length of straw, prime mover and power transmission, dimensions of the threshing cylinder and threshers, speed of fan and threshing cylinder, environmental condition, labour requirement, time of operation, total grain at main outlet un-threshed grain, loose grain with the straw, spilled grain and visible breakage of grain were collected for this study. The collected data were analyzed to find out the following key technical parameters for comparing performance of the selected threshers. The Gross Margin (Gm) of an agricultural enterprise is its output (revenue) less its variable costs and the Net Margin (NM) is Gross Margin less its fixed costs. The enterprise output includes the hiring rate of machine and grain loss saved by the open drum thresher. The gross revenue was calculated as hiring rate per unit time and price of saved amount of paddy. For paddy threshing the variable cost items were identified as costs of labour, fuel oil and repair and maintenance. Gross revenue = (Units) x (Hiring rate per unit) + (Loss saved by the open drum thresher) Gross Margin= (Gross output)-( Total variable cost + Cost of threshing loss) Net Margin = (Gross Margin)- (Fixed costs) Partial Budgeting is a marginal analysis which attempts to determine the changes in inputs, outputs, costs, revenues and profits associated with a proposed change of action, where this action does not affect the overall structure and performance of the enterprise. In other words, it looks at the marginal or partial change. The Partial Budget compares the costs of change with the benefits of change by examining the impact of that change as net income and the substitution options were analyzed.

Source of Information: Bangladesh Journal Agri. Engg. 18 (1&2) 1-14, 2007

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Considering timeliness of post-harvest operations, cost of threshing, labour crisis at peak harvesting and threshing period, unavailability of animal for traditional threshing ( treading) drudgery of manual threshing, simplicity of design and price of mechanical threshers, open-drum threshers are becoming popular among the farmers and substituting traditional threshing options. The Farida open drum thresher model registered the highest thresher models also provided substantially higher threshing and throughput capacities over manual threshing. Among the four different open drum thresher models, Farida model was appeared as appropriate one considering the socioeconomic and agro-technological conditions of Bangladesh. Considering operation cost and benefit-cost ratio, Farida and BRRI model open drum threshers appeared as better options for the farmers compared to Boby and MAWTS models, though cylinder loss was high in Farida and BRRI models than MAWTS model. However, the substitution proposition by Partial Budget analysis clearly showed the economic profitability of BRRI model over the entire open drum models. But from the break-even analysis, the Farida and Boby model open drum threshers were found economical for the farmers of Bangladesh having even very smaller land holding of 1 ha. The BRRI model was also found profitable for farmers having up to 2.5 ha of land. therefore, considering the financial aspects, Farida and Boby model open drum threshers may be recommended for all categories of farm holdings of Bangladesh to minimize threshing cost, improve timeliness of post-harvest operation and overcome labour crisis at the peak period of harvesting and as well as threshing.

Knowledge Management: Journal