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Assessment of Paddy Harvesting Practices of Southern Delta Region in Bangladesh

MK Hasan
Department of Farm Power and Machinery, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh.

MR Ali
Department of Farm Power and Machinery, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh.

CK Saha
Department of Farm Power and Machinery, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh.

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

MM Hossain
Department of Farm Power and Machinery, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh.

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Paddy in Bangladesh is an important cereal crop for national food security. Harvesting is the process of collecting mature paddy from the field. Timely harvesting operation is known as crucial and influential processes on quantity, quality and production cost of paddy. The aim of the study was to assess the manual and mechanical harvesting systems of paddy in southern delta region of Bangladesh in terms of labor cost, infield harvesting losses, and time required for harvesting. Several experiments were conducted to compare mechanical and manual harvesting systems. Mechanical harvesting of Aman paddy (November-December 2016) and Boro paddy (April-May 2017) was conducted using two models of reaper and a mini-combine harvester at Dumuria and Wazirpur Upazilas of Khulna and Barisal districts, respectively. An experiment was also conducted at the same locations to determine labor requirement and time for harvesting paddy manually. To determine manual harvesting loss, an experiment was conducted at BAU farm, Mymensingh. Total cost savings in paddy harvesting were found 52% and 37% for mini-combine harvester and reaper, respectively over manual harvesting system. Similarly, labor savings using mini-combine harvester and reaper were found 65% and 52%, respectively over manual harvesting system. The total harvesting losses (including harvesting, threshing and cleaning) were also found 1.24%, 4.22% and 6.36% for using mini-combine, reaper and manual harvesting systems, respectively. The results indicated that manual harvesting is a slow and cost involving system. On the other hand, lack of awareness among farmers about the benefits of mechanical harvesting system and lack of skill manpower for operating and servicing harvesters are major barriers for adopting mechanized harvesting system in southern delta region. This study revealed that mechanical harvesting of paddy using either reaper or mini-combine harvester will assist to strengthen food security in southern delta of Bangladesh.

Keywords: Southern delta; Paddy; Harvesting; Cost saving; Losses, Reaper, Combine harvester

Location: Dumuria and Wazirpur upazilas of Khulna and Barisal districts and BAU farm, Mymensingh

Start Date: 00-11-2016

End Date: 00-05-2017

Program Area: Farm Mechanization

Commodity: Harvester, Reaper

Objectives:

To determine labor requirement and time for harvesting paddy manually and reaper and combine harvester .

Methodology:

Experimental site selection: The experiment in relation to mechanical harvesting of paddy using mini- combine harvester and reaper was conducted at Dumuria and Wazirpur upazilas of Khulna and Barisal districts, respectively of Southern Delta region of Bangladesh. Two villages in each upazila were selected for the study. Selected villages were Voroshakati and Ramzankati in Wazirpur upazila of Barishal district and Kulbaria and Mothbaria in Dumuria Upazila of Khulna district. Farm households selection: Nine farm households in each village were considered for mechanical harvesting of Aman rice during November-December/2016 and Boro rice in April-May/2017. An experiment was also conducted for determining manual harvesting loss at BAU farm, Mymensingh. Harvesting methods: At present paddy harvesting is done mainly by manual method with hand tools like sickle. Modern rice harvesting technologies like reaper and combine harvester are found in few areas of Bangladesh. Based on this, two methods of paddy harvesting were used at experimental sites. These were: Traditional method (manually using sickle) and Modern/mechanical method (using mini-combine and reaper). Traditional/manual harvesting using sickle: For the determination of manual harvesting cost, labor requirement, time and harvesting losses, 3 (three) plots were selected and all plots were harvested by manually. From harvesting to cleaning, all operations were done by manually. Manual losses were estimated considering a) shatter loss, b) cutting loss, c) gathering loss, d) carrying loss, e) threshing loss and f) cleaning loss since combine harvester does all these operations in single pass. Modern/mechanical paddy harvesting using mini- combine and reaper: For the determination of mechanical harvesting cost, labor requirement, time and harvesting losses, selected plots were harvested by using mini-combine and reaper. During harvesting using mini-combine harvester, from harvesting to cleaning all operations were done in a single operation. On the other hand, after harvesting with reaper, remaining operations like threshing was done by power thresher and carrying, winnowing & cleaning were done by manually. Benefits in using mechanical harvesting system:The costs of three different paddy harvesting methods like mini-combine harvester and reaper, and manual harvesting system were compared to determine the benefits of mechanical harvesting system. For mini- combine harvester and reaper following equations were used to determine cost saving and percent of cost saving. Cost saving for using mini combine (Tk/ha) = Cost for manual method (Tk/ha) – cost for mini- combine harvesting system (Tk/ha); Cost saving for using reaper (Tk/ha) = Cost for manual method (Tk/ha) – cost for harvesting through reaper (Tk/ha).

Source of Information: Progressive Agriculture, Vol. 30, Suppl. 1: 57-64, 2019

Article Link (Online Journal): DOI: https://doi.org/10.3329/pa.v30i0.41558

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Total cost savings in paddy harvesting were found 52% and 37% for mini-combine harvester and reaper, respectively over manual harvesting system. Similarly, labor savings using mini-combine harvester and reaper were found 65% and 52%, respectively over manual harvesting system. The total harvesting losses (including harvesting, threshing and cleaning) were also found 1.24%, 4.22% and 6.36% for using mini- combine, reaper and manual harvesting systems, respectively. The 5.12% and 2.14% losses of paddy can be reduced using mini-combine harvester and reaper, respectively. The results indicated that manual harvesting is a slow and cost involving system. It is necessary to build awareness among farmers about the benefits of mechanical harvesting system for adopting mechanized paddy harvesting in southern delta region. Based on technical and financial performances, both reaper and mini-combine harvester are found suitable for the farmers of the southern region of Bangladesh. However, the farmers found the mini-combine harvester more attractive as it performs several tasks like harvesting, threshing, cleaning and bagging in a single operation.

Knowledge Management: Journal