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Farm Machinery Selection by Using Computer Programme

P. K. Banik
Paradise Homeo Hall. 209 Korbanigonj. Chittagong.

M. M. Huq
Professor
Department of Farm Power & Machinery. Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh.

M. M. Hossain
Professor
Department of Farm Power & Machinery, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh.

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

A computer programme was developed to select optimum size of farm machinery. power level and annual cost of farm machinery operations based on farm size and cropping patterns. The programme was designed in order to minimize total cost of farm machinery. A mono-crop (only rice cultivation) and a multi-crop (jute and wheat with rice) pattern were selected and farm sizes were varied from 5 ha to 50 ha. The basic management data for the optimum selection of farm machinery and power were analysed for the Mymensingh region of Bangladesh and computations were carried out with a computer by a software programme written in Quick Basic. It was found that optimum width of implements. optimum power requirement and annual cost of machinery usage varied with size of the farm and with cropping pattern and all these values were found higher in mono-crop system than those of multi-crop system. A precise crop production cost analysis was also taken into account. The economic suitability of using self- propelled combine harvester was described in context of Bangladesh.

Keywords: Computer Programme, Cropping patterns, Different farm sizes

Location: Bangladesh Agricultural University. Myrnensingh. Bangladesh

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Farm Mechanization

Non-commodity: GIS

Objectives:

1. To select the optimum width and the range of width of some agricultural implements based on farm sizes. cropping patterns. soil properties and climatic conditions.

2. To determine the optimum power level for different farm sizes and cropping patterns.

3. To appraise machinery operations at different farm sizes for different cropping patterns.

4. To justify the machinery usage in Bangladesh in economic point of view by calculating the total cost of production. gross income and net benefit from different cropping practices.

5. To find the economic suitability of using a self-propelled combine harvester over power operated harvester (ripper) and thresher in context of Bangladesh.

Methodology:

Farm machinery selection is associated with farm size. cropping pattern, cultural operation, crop yield and crop value. Farm sizes were varied from 5 to 50 ha in this study. A mono-crop (Aus-Aman-Boro) and a multi-crop (Aus/Jute-Aman-Boro/wheat) pattern were selected. Necessary data for this study were collected from some agencies/vendors of tractors and power tillers of Bangladesh, several test report, research papers and books. The optimum width of different implements were calculated by using the following least-cost width equation. The range in allowable w were calculated. The Optimum power requirement and Power tillers (9 k.W). small tractors (30 kW) and large tractors (50 kW) were suggested as and when required to meet the optimum power requirement in different farm sizes. Annual cost of operating disc harrow, leveller, rake rotavator, transplanter, seed-cum-fertilizer drill, bund former, weeder, sprayer and harvester (ripper) was calculated. Operating cost of pump and thresher was calculated in terms of their yearly fixed and variable cost. Annual cost for power sources was estimated, based upon their annual hours used in terms of their fixed cost variable cost and cost of farmstead operations. Total cost of production, gross income and net benefit were estimated. Annual operating cost (field operations and farmstead operations) for a combine harvester was calculated and compared with power operated harvester (ripper) and thresher operations jointly. The computation involved in determining the optimum size of farm machinery. power level. and annual cost of machinery usage is a very tedious job. Therefore. a computer programme was written in Microsoft Quick Basic. The programme was written in modular form.

It was Menu driven with Hotkey facilities. The Main Menu is a Popup Menu consisting of three Menu Options namely Mono-crop, Multi-crop and Exit. Mono-crop Option would call 'Mono- crop Popup Menu' and Multi-crop Option would call 'Multi-crop Popup Menu'. Each of these two Popup Menus contains four Menu Options namely Optimum Width. Range of Width. Optimum Power and Annual Cost except that an additional Menu Option namely 'Combine Harvester' is included at 'Mono-crop Popup Menu'. Each of these five Menu Options will be activated in response to different Hotkeys and would call different modules. The Main Menu Popup' would be the driver of the entire programme. Exit Option would Quit the programme and return back to the System. The programme was converted to an executive file (Machine.EXE). If the path is mentioned at the Autoexe.BA T file, the output of the programme will automatically be loaded after turning on the computer and The System Prompt will be displayed at the execution of Exit Option from the Main Menu. Therefore. no skilled personnel is required to operate the programme. The validation of the developed programme was performed using the data of Bangladesh Agricultural University Farm. The functional diagrams of different phases of the programme are not illustrated here to maintain the prescribed length of the paper but the programme is available on request through pankajbanik@yahoo. com.

Source of Information: Journal of the Institution of Engineers. Bangladesh Agricultural Engineering Division. Vol. 28/AE. No. I. Dec. 2001

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The basic management data for the optimum selection of farm machinery and power were analysed for the Mymensingh region of Bangladesh and computations were carried out with a computer by a software programme written in Quick Basic. It was found that optimum width of implements. optimum power requirement and annual cost of machinery usage varied with size of the farm and with cropping pattern and all these values were found higher in mono-crop system than those of multi-crop system. A precise crop production cost analysis was also taken into account. The economic suitability of using self- propelled combine harvester was described in context of Bangladesh.

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