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Techno-economic Feasibility of Zoomlion Combine Harvester in Haor Areas of Bangladesh

A. K. M. Saiful Islam
Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Md. Ashraful Alam
Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Muhammad Ashik-E-Rabbani
Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh.

Md. Samiul Bashir
Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh.

Md. Mizanur Rahman
Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Haor represents the food basket of Bangladesh and rice is the only crop grown once a year. Harvesting of rice is labor-intensive works and required migrated labor to complete the harvesting works. Mechanical intervention of rice harvesting is urgently needed to increase productivity. The proper knowledge of economic valuation and operational necessities needs to use of combine harvesters. Research objective was selected to test the technical and economic analysis of Zoomlion rice combine harvester (which is originally developed in China) in Maisherkandi, Mithamain Upazila under Kishoregonj district. The above-mentioned areas are representing haor areas of Bangladesh. Based on the straight-line method, fixed cost items which are machine purchase price, shelter, tax, and insurance were calculated. During the operation of the combine harvester, variable cost items such as maintenance and repair, fuel, oil, drivers and guidance were collected. The breakeven point was calculated in terms of the hectares that must be harvested yearly to cover fixed annual costs; and the payback period. Harvesting speed ranged from 1.23 - 3.20 km?hr⁻¹. The field capacity of harvester was obtained at 0.15 ha?hr⁻¹ and consumed fuel of up to 32 L?ha⁻¹. Field sizes of less than 800 m² should be avoided for the Zoomlion combine harvester to operate the harvester machine in an efficient manner. The combine produced grains loss ranging from 1.60% - 1.91%. At an initial cost of Tk 2,000,000, owning the combine harvester becomes profitable after 20 ha of paddy field harvested at a harvesting capacity of 0.15 ha?hr⁻¹. Vibration and noise were observed as intolerable limit of the operator. The operator felt comfort to operate the machine. This machine is capable to operate in the muddy field having a water height of 4 - 8 cm. Workability of the combine harvesters depended on soil, weather, crop condition, land size and shape. The combine harvester was able to develop sufficient traction in soft soil during harvesting period in haor area. Zoomlion harvester is a cost-effective and time-saving machine but the initial costs are higher.

Keywords: Forward Speed, Plot Length, Field Size, Field Capacity, Annual Use, Break-Even Area

Location: Maisherkandi, Mithamain upazila, underneath the district of Kishorganj.

Start Date: 00-03-2020

End Date: 00-05-2020

Program Area: Postharvest and Agro-processing

Commodity: Rice

Objectives:

To determine the technical and economic feasibility of Zoomlion combine harvester in haor regions of Bangladesh.

Methodology:

The research was held throughout boro 2020 season at Maisherkandi, Mithamain upazila, underneath the district of Kishorganj. Rice crop was harvested by Zoomlion combine harvester from 16 March to 10 May. During the research period of this study, around 18 locations rice fields were selected. Most of the locations soil condition was sandy loam and data was gathering from selected 18 locations rice fields.

The criteria of field performance include machine running speed, theoretical field capability, actual field capacity and field efficiency, work per hour and consumption of fuel. The field efficiency is the ratio between effective field capacity and theoretical field capacity. The theoretical and effective field capacity was calculated below formulas. Theoretical field capacity (ha⋅h⁻¹) = Total area harvested(ha)/Effective operation time(h); Effective field capacity(ha⋅h⁻¹) = Total area harvested(ha)Total operation time(h)Effective field capacity(ha⋅h⁻¹)=Total area harvested(ha)/Total operation time(h)..........(2); Field efficiency% = Effective field capacity Theoretical field capacity ×100; Field efficiency%=Effective field capacity/theoretical field capacity ×100...........(3). The fuel consumption of the combine harvester was determined by differentiating the amount of fuel in tank before harvesting operation and the amount of fuel in tank after harvesting time. Time parameters were measured utilizing an automated stopwatch and the actual time (spending actual harvesting time), turning time (time of turning and reversing the machine without cutting rice plant), and idle time (operator resting and machine maintenance time). The total time was calculated in h/ha which was obtained by summarizing the whole-time parameters then divided it by the total harvesting area. To get the average time, total utilized time was summarizing and then it was divided by the number of total farms. The forwarding speed of the Zoomlion combine harvester was obtained by taking total time needed to harvest each row and the amount of area harvest at that particular time. Inlet operation of the combine started when the machine moves forward direction the separator separates the crop for harvesting, the reel picks up the standing or laying crops and moves them to the cutting device. The auger transmits the retracting fingers passing the crop to the inclination conveyor chain feeding the crop into the thresher. The cylinder and concave assembly play a crucial role in dividing most of the crop into seed, chaffers that fall directly onto the grain pan or a conveyor with in thresher. At this point, the cylinder beater starts to strip the threshed material from cylinder and supports in further separation and directs the straw and remaining seed to the straw carrier. The straw carrier aggravates the material to remove any existing seed and un-threshed heads as the straw is moved backward from the machine to be discharged. A crop transfer conveyor gathers the material extracted from the straw and is delivered to the crop container at the front of the chaffer sieve. The combination of threshed grain with several chaffer and small debris drops from the concave sieve falls to an oscillating sieve and is clean by a fan and the oscillating sieve together. After cleaning, a horizontal auger and a lifting auger delivers the grain to the grain tank. The tailings are then transferred through the oscillating sieve to the rear outlet. The straw in the thresher is poured out off the field after threshing through the straw outlet. The threshed and clean grain is discharged by grain outlet pipe in the sack or grain tank at the sacking site. A total of 18 fields data were collected according to plot size. The plot size of the field was measured with help of measuring tape. Each turning time and passing time was recorded using a stopwatch. The events and time loss were calculated according to plot sizes. Before and after harvesting, grain fallen data in 1 m² was collected in three places in each field. Moisture and weight of the grain were recorded and measured as a percentage of total yields in unit area. The costs were divided into two categories in separate harvesting segments (both mechanized and manual methods) which are fixed cost, and variable cost.

Source of Information: Agricultural Sciences > Vol.11 No.12, December 2020

Article Link (Online Journal): DOI: 10.4236/as.2020.1112077

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Zoomlion combine harvester was found as a promising technology especially for haor areas due to its overall better performance. Optimizing the initial higher cost of Zoomlion combine harvester, it is an effective, cost and labor-saving, and reduces time to harvest the rice during the rice harvesting season. Machines showed better performance in larger sizes of fields. Farmers will be able to harvest their crops within a very short time consequently avoid the natural calamities.

Knowledge Management: Journal