37 research outputs found
Farm Mechanization of Small Farms in Ethiopia: A Case of Cereal Crops in Hetosa District
No full text학위논문 (박사)-- 서울대학교 대학원 : 바이오시스템·소재학부 바이오시스템공학전공, 2016. 8. Kyeong Uk Kim(professor).Farm machinery utilization for small farm holders in Ethiopia is not prominent. Reliance on draught animal technology and low productivity had been observed. It has been a question to most of the people why our agriculture relies on animal power, and people agree that this has to be changed. But how to change should come about. Based on these problems the study aimed to investigate the existing conditions of small-holders farm mechanization and to evaluate the effect of using agricultural machinery on crop production particularly on main cereal crops. In order to achieve the objective of this study, different methods were used. Data were collected from randomly selected 90 farmers using stratified random sampling techniques. In order to see the effect of farm machinery on crop production, linear regression was used. In addition, three mechanization models i.e. Model 1: traditional farmingModel 2: Semi- mechanized farmingand Model 3: Mechanized farmings were developed. They were compared in terms of machine-hours, man-hours, draught animal-hours, labor required, land and labor productivity. Furthermore, these models were compared by the mechanization input and output energy consumptions. In addition, mechanization status of the study area and existing farm machineries time and use dependent costs and economic feasibility of owing farm machinery were determined.
The results indicated that using farm machineries and associated technologies has a positive and significant effect on cereal crops productions. Among three models, traditional wheat farming was more labor intensive by 86.7% and 88% than the semi-mechanized and mechanized farmings respectively, and the number of days required for the complete farm operations was greater for the traditional by 72.2% and 94.4% than those required for the mechanized and semi-mechanized farming respectively. It was found that mechanized farming was labor and time saved technology more than the traditional and semi-mechanized farming. Mechanized and semi-mechanized farming played a significant role by reducing the operations hours of cereal crops which have timeliness effect on production. It was found that the mechanized and semi-mechanized farming were more land and labor productive than the traditional farming. Labor productivity was increased by 94.2%, 95.6% and 61.42% for wheat, barley and maize farm operation respectively when the traditional farming was mechanized. Besides, productivity by the mechanized and semi-mechanized productions was more than those by the traditional production. Hence, traditional farming was not economical.
However, from the energy prospective, total input energy for the semi-mechanized farm for wheat was more by 95.47% and 77.14% than those by the traditional and mechanized farmings respectively. Energy efficiency and productivity by the mechanized and traditional farmings were more than those by semi-mechanized production. Finally, low mechanization level, improper machinery handling, over-utilization, high repair and maintenance, and fuel and oil costs were identified. However, this study found impressive results which could invoke and inspire farmers in the study area to own tractors so as to get return in a short period. The last but not the least, choice of farm machinery for the framers in the study area is crucial. Hence, it is recommended that the government to design proper mechanization policies which could change current traditional farming systems of small farm holders to power assisted ones.
Key words: farm mechanization, mechanization modeling, farm machinery, energy, cereal cropsCHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION. 1
1.1. Background and Justification 4
1.2. Objective of the study 6
CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW 7
2.1. Agricultural mechanization review 7
2.2. Effects of mechanization on production and productivity 8
2.3. Ethiopian agriculture 11
2.4. Cereal crop mechanization 13
2.5. Farm mechanization in Arsi province: scenario of cereal crops 14
2.6. Draft animal technology 15
CHAPTER 3: MATERIALS AND METHODS 16
3.1. Introduction 16
3.2. Study site 16
3.3. Research method 18
3.4. Method of data collection 19
3.4.1. Data collection for descriptive statistics and analytical model 19
3.4.2. Data collection for mechanization modeling 22
3.4.3. Data collection for machinery management and cost determination 27
3.4.4. Breakeven point determination 33
3.4.5. Data analysis 33
CHAPTER 4: RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 35
4.1. Mechanization of small holders farming characteristics 35
4.1.1. Demographic statistics of the small farms 35
4.1.2. Farm size and farm level characteristics 37
4.1.3. Agricultural products 40
4.1.4. Farm powers 42
4.1.5. Farm operation in a year 48
4.1.6. Level of farm mechanization in the study site 51
4.2. Estimation of agricultural machinery effect on crop production 55
4.3. Development of farm mechanization models 58
4.4. Comparison of the three mechanization models 66
4.4.1. Work days required for cereals production 68
4.4.2. Labor required for the cereals production of mechanization models 72
4.4.3. Cereals production costs and income for the mechanization models 77
4.4.4. Labor and land productivity measure in the models 82
4.5. Energy use analysis: Input and output relationship 84
4.5.1. Input and output energy analysis for the model 1 84
4.5.2. Input and output energy analysis for the model 2 85
4.5.3. Input and output energy analysis for the model 3 87
4.5.4. Energy consumption comparison for cereals production of three models 88
4.6. Farm machinery management and associated costs 94
4.6.1. Farm machinery maintenance management 94
4.6.2. Farm machinery utilization 97
4.6.3. Agricultural machinery cost management 100
4.6.4. Farm machinery replacement indicators 110
4.7. Economic feasibility of owning farm machinery 112
CHAPTER FIVE 5: POLICY RECOMMENDATION 116
5.1. Remark to the government on policy direction 116
5.2. Recommended direction to farm machinery plan 118
CHAPTER 6: CONCLUSION 121
REFERENCE 124
APPENDIXES 136Docto
A Design, Development and Performance Evaluation of Tractor Drawn Tie Ridger: Design, Development and Performance Evaluation of Tractor Drawn Tie Ridger
No full textTie ridging is one of the soil and water conservation practices. It controls runoff, prevents erosion, conserves moisture, and thereby increases crop production. There is a necessity to have an implement that would form a ridge to conserve rainwater in dryland conditions. At present in Ethiopia, tie-ridging operation is conducted using human and draft animal power sources. Tie-ridging operation conducted using human and animal draft power is labor-intensive, tedious, and time-consuming. Since the implement was drawn by animals, its field capacity and efficiency were limited. To solve the above problem, this study aimed to design, develop and evaluate the performance of a tractor-drawn tie ridger capable of tie ridging at desired depth and space. The tractor-drawn tie ridger would be developed using locally available materials and consists of the mainframe, central driving wheel, tie ridger, furrow opener, and shank. The following activities were carried out, material selection, design of all component parts, fabrication and assembling the component parts, performance evaluation, data collection, data organizing and data analysis to draw meaning full conclusion. The performances of tractor-drawn tie ridger were evaluated in the laboratory and field. In a laboratory test, the machine was checked for its specifications and operations. The average theoretical field capacity, effective field capacity and field efficiency of the machine were 0.94, 0.67 and 71.24 % respectively. The maximum draft required for the implement is 1,135.23 N. The 40 hp tractor was used to drive this implement. The average depth and width of tie ridge were observed at 22.92 cm and 34.29 cm respectively. The cost of fabrication of the tie ridger was estimated to be approximately about 19,683.45 ETB. Test results in-field evaluation of the tie ridger indicated that it could form tie ridges of 2.78 m × 34.29 cm size. Per hour, cost of operation of tie-ridger is 220.12 ETB/hr
Design, development, and performance evaluation of carrot washing and grading machine
No full textCarrot washing and grading is performed after harvesting and before transporting to the market has been done with traditional methods by farmers in Ethiopia with too tedious, much time, and labor-consuming which leads to health problems, Fertile soil erosion, discouraging for carrot production and river water pollution. The main objective of this study was to design, develop, and perform the evaluation of carrot washing and grading machine after harvesting before transporting to market that was not used for cooking purposes to alleviate the above-stated problems. During design, a power source, initial speed, and discharge capacity of the pump were considered as 50W, 60rpm, and 0.036l/s respectively based on literature reviews. Performance of this machine evaluation was carried out with Nantey variety at two levels of feeding loads 10kg and 15 kg at different drum speeds; 14rpm, 21rpm, and 28rpm. The data was collected in both qualitative and quantitative methods and the collected data were analyzed by using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software (SPSS) at a 5% level of significance. The overall mean results obtained for performance indicators in terms of time required to complete washing and grading activities, washing efficiency, grading efficiency, percentage of damage tuber, and throughout put capacity were recorded as 2.22minutes, 98.70%, 92.23%, 1.21%, and 242.17 kg/hr respectively. The evaluation results indicated the time required of 2 to 10.88minutes, washing efficiencies of 84.87 to 98.70 % for the range of the variable of drum speed between 14 to 28 rpm and for the range of the variable of feeding load 10-15kg. The grading efficiency increased 72.89 to 92.23% as the speed increased (14 to 28 rpm), for the feeding load increased from10 to 15kg. The carrot washing and grading machine is simple to operate and maintain without formal education and the machine was fabricated from locally sourced materials. The unit cost of this machine was birr 16363.52, which is cheap and can be afforded by an average of Ethiopian farmers
Prediction of Draft Force for Ard plows Using Dimensional Analysis in Silt Loam Soil
No full textThe aim of this research is to determine the draft force of Ard plough in silt loam soil. Field and laboratories test were taken to measure the actual draft force and utilize it as input for draft prediction. PI-Buckingham's pi theorem using dimensional analysis used to develop a mathematical model. IBM SPSS statistics software was applied to validate and verify the developed model. The relationship between the measured and predicted values of the draft force evaluated R2 is 0.91. The predicted draft force value of skewness and kurtosis is in the range of accepted values. The performance of the predicted draft force was checked using RRMSE and CRM. Investigation findings demonstrate that the derived mathematical equation was successful and viable for predicting the draft force of an ard plow in silt loam soil.
Keywords: Ard plow, Dimensional analysis, Draft force, Mathematical Equation, Silt loam soi
Influence of soil physical and chemical characteristics on soil compaction in farm field
No full textFarm soil compaction is influenced by animal loads and Agricultural machinery. In this paper the influence of soil physical and chemical characteristics on soil compaction at Awash Melkasa farm field. Compaction of soil test was taken at five different depths which are; 5 cm, 10 cm, 15 cm, 20 cm, and 25 cm with the help of a hydraulically operated cone penetrometer. Those five depths were used in 15 sample points (point A to point O) to take 75 soil compaction data using hydraulic powered a Spot-on digital soil cone penetrometer from an area of 0.6 ha farmland. A correlation of 15 sample points (A to O) of soil compaction in the field was performed. For soil physical and chemical tests in laboratory soil samples were taken from selected farm fields at 3 different ranges of depths (0–10, 10–20, and 20–30 cm). Averagely the highest and the lowest compaction values are 3947.32 Kpa and 2667.72 Kpa respectively. The soil texture laboratory test indicates the soil was a clay loam with 36.74 % sand soil, 30.31 % clay soil, and 33 % silt soil. The highest and the lowest percentages of moisture value were 13.97 and 16.04 respectively. Total organic carbon, organic matter, and total nitrogen increase as the soil compaction increases and vice versa. The output of this study adds value to the field of agricultural mechanization since the weight of machinery is high, knowing the soil's physical and chemical properties and investigating the relation with the soil compaction rate is necessary
Modelling and Simulation of Hydraulic System to Measure Soil Compaction for Agricultural Field
No full textSoil compaction is one of the negative factors associated in the top layer of the soil by heavy agricultural machinery in the agricultural field that limits ploughing tool movement, plant growth and crop yield. Soil compaction has been conventionally measured by using a manual operated cone penetrometer which has certain ergonomically restriction tackled by the operator, it takes more time and difficult to obtain compaction data. The study aimed to design and develop a hydraulic system to measure soil compaction for agricultural field, to simulate soil compaction measuring system using MATLAB Simulink 2018 and to analyze the simulation output. The modelling and simulation include the hydraulic system used for actuate the compaction measuring cone penetrometer by considering the vertical force coming from double acting hydraulic cylinder as variable mass and the soil as a stiffness and damping property. From the simulation output, the hydraulic performance based on soil compaction measurement with the parameters such as hydraulic pressure as cone index, depth of operation, hydraulic torque, and power were analyzed. The time required for the cylinder extension to insert the cone penetrometer to the soil was 3.3 seconds with the maximum speed of cylinder extension of 0.3 mm/s. The maximum downward penetration resistance was 0.3 N. The pressure varies from 24 Pa to 38 Pa during extension of the cylinder and 0 to 15 Pa during retraction with the maximum flow rate of 3.8 × 10-6 m3/s. The relationship between hydraulic power and flow rate is directly proportional. Hydraulic torque and flow rate have inversely proportional relationship
Investigation of Soil Physiochemical Properties Effects on Soil Compaction for a Long Year Tilled Farmland
No full textIn many parts of the world, the earth has been heavily compacted as a result of large farm equipment. For soil compaction, the main constituent factors were soil physiochemical properties such as soil texture, moisture content, electrical conductivity, cation exchange capacity, total organic carbon, organic matter, total nitrogen, and soil pH directly and indirectly. This article addressed the causes and effects of soil compaction, operating parameters, and soil physicochemical properties in the Bishoftu long year tilled farmland of Ethiopia. For the experimental test, 5 different depths (5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 cm) and fifteen sample points were selected in 0.6 ha of 60 m by 100 m farmland for taking soil compaction data. Soil samples are taken from three depth ranges (0–10, 10–20, and 20–30 cm) from farmlands for investigation of soil physicochemical properties. The maximum and minimum values of the cone index of this study were 1918.133 kPa and 864.733 kPa, respectively, by taking the average of all sample points. The soil laboratory result shows that Bishoftu farmland soil is a mixture of loam, clay loam, and sandy clay loam with 47.33% of sand, 25.67% of clay, and 27% of silt. The maximum and minimum percentages of soil moisture values were 27.02 and 21.46 at 0–10 cm and 20–30 cm depth, respectively. Total organic carbon, organic matter, and total nitrogen exhibit positive relationships with depth and soil compaction. The correlation analysis indicates soil pH, electric conductivity, percentage of sand, cation exchange capacity, organic matter, and total nitrogen were among soil physiochemical parameters that are positively correlated with soil compaction. Furthermore, the percentage of clay, percentage of silt, and total organic carbon (p≤0.05) are negatively correlated with soil compaction in soil samples
Determinants of neonatal near misses among neonates admitted to Guji and Borena zones selected public hospitals, Southern Ethiopia, 2021: A facility based unmatched case control study design.
No full textThere is little available evidence that quantifies the determinats of NNM in Ethiopia despite an increasing magnitude of neonatal mortality. Therefore, this study was designed to provide concrte evidence about the determinats of NNMS among neonates admitted to Guji and Borena Zones Public Hospitals, Southern Ethiopia, 2021. A facility based unmatched case control study design was conducted on 402 (134 cases and 268 controls) selected neonates admitted to Bule Hora, Adola and Yabelo General Hospitals from February 1-March 31, 2021. Cases were consecutively selected. Whereas for each case, two controls were selected by systematic random sampling technique. The data collection included a pretested and structured face-to-face interviewer administered questionnaire with a supplementation of maternal and neonatal medical records with checklists. Then the data were coded and entered in to Epi data version 3.1 and then exported to the Statistical Package for Social Science IBM version 25 for analysis. The descriptive statistics run and the results of the data were presented using frequencies, and tables. Bivariable and multi variable logistic regression was used for the analsysis of the data. Finally, Adjusted Odds Ratio together with 95% Confidence Intervals and p value <0.05 was used to declare the significance of all statistic. A total of 134 cases (neonatal near misses) and 268 controls (normal neonate) were participated in this study to make a response rate of 100% for both cases, and controls. In this study rural residence (AOR = 0.51, 95% CI: 0.27, 0.96), previous history of neonatal death (AOR = 4.85, 95%CI: 2.24,10.49), birth interval ≤ 2 years (AOR = 1.83, 95% CI: 1.04, 3.11) and history of abortion (both induced and miscarriage) (AOR = 1.97, 95%CI: 1.17, 3.31) were found to be statistically significant at a p-value of <0.05. History of prior abortion history of prior neonatal death and short birth interval (≤ 2 years) were identified to be the determinats of NNMs. High quality antenatal and intrapartum continuum of care should be provided for women and neonates. Additionally, contraceptive utilization should be encouraged for a women to space the births of their children
On The Prerequisites Of Islamic Environmental Ethics
No full textThis article discusses various difficulties arising out of the concept of environmental ethics from an Islamic theological perspective. The author begins by describing growing Muslim awareness of environmental issues. Since the issue of manufactured climate change could not be raised in traditional Islam, the need arises to work out an environmental ethics based on the Qur’an. Subsequently, the Qur’anic concepts of hilafa and amana become the main focus of the article. The author highlights the need to develop a consistent view of Islamic ethics within the rise of Islamic theology in the European context, a view that is consistent with pre-modern Islamic scientific traditions and that deals with the contemporary understanding of ethics
Voices and ways of degrowth: human consequences
No full textO objetivo deste trabalho é apresentar o contemporâneo movimento sociopolítico do Decrescimento, partindo das ideias inaugurais de Serge Latouche, economista e filósofo francês responsável pela criação deste termo, sua historicidade, premissas de análise, e novas formas de subjetivação que propõe, cuja argumentação se sustenta e deriva também, dentre outros autores - como Castoriadis, Gorz e Mészáros - da tese de David Harvey que estabelece que desenvolvimento não é o mesmo que crescimento, e que é possível promover desenvolvimento nas dimensões das relações pessoais, sociais do cotidiano e das relações com o meio ambiente sem as orientações que favoreçam o capital e sua máxima de acumulação. Trata-se, segundo os autores, de um movimento anticapitalista que busca denunciar questões críticas contemporâneas e contradições e crises do capitalismo, apontando um conjunto de passos a serem dados para o lado de fora desta lógica que valoriza e incentiva o desejo e a necessidade do excesso. Em diálogo pleno com a Ética e seus mais recentes estudos, nos quais desponta a autora Victoria Camps, o Decrescimento se preocupa com as escolhas do indivíduo, com o que as mobiliza e com as maneiras pelas quais devemos viver. Segundo esta autora o reconhecimento em torno de nossa não autossuficiência faz com que nos percebamos vulneráveis e o espírito do que a maioria dos autores do Decrescimento chama de espírito do Dom do Decrescimento e de a Economia da Felicidade dialoga diretamente com a busca do homem por governar estas vulnerabilidades, compreender suas virtudes, desenvolvê-las e praticar o bem e seu senso coletivo. Sua contribuição por sua vez para a construção contínua e transformadora de uma Psicologia Social Crítica deve-se à busca por um novo sujeito, e cuja subjetividade possa ser ressignificada e emancipada, neste exercício alguns conceitos nos foram muito caros, como por exemplo, o conceito de liberdade. Discutiu-se o Decrescimento destacando suas viabilidades práticas, importância, dimensões planetárias e aquilo que particularmente mais me chamou atenção em relação ao movimento a partir de minha própria experiência na 3 Conferência Internacional do Decrescimento que ocorreu em Veneza em setembro de 2012. A espinha dorsal deste trabalho foi o próprio discurso do Decrescimento e o discurso construído em torno dele, e suas vozes que foram dispostas e organizadas em análise nesta pesquisa em forma de interlocução e diálogos abertos, interdisciplinares, teóricos e práticos. A interlocução foi exercício metodológico capaz de reunir as vozes do Decrescimento e transportá-las para dentro do texto desta pesquisa, sendo a própria pesquisa em si, pelo dar a conhecer deste sujeito e que pode ser outro e mediar sua existência com o mundo de outras maneiras, e pelo dar a conhecer em torno do próprio movimento, e sobre o qual não se pretende conclusões, pois não se trata de encerrar a discussão trata-se de valorizá-la por ela mesma e potencializar possibilidades dialéticas, críticas e reflexivas, ficando, portanto ao leitor o convite a problematizar-se diante das questões aqui destacadas, em busca de si, para si e pelas alternativas existenciais mais diversas, dentre elas, o Decrescimento.The goal at this research is present the contemporary social and political Degrowth Movement, starting with the originator idea from Serge Latouche, French economist and philosopher, who is responsible for term Degrowth, and also present the movements history, premises of analyses and the new subjectivity it proposes. This discussion is based among different authors as Castoriadis, Gorz, Mészáros, on David Harvey thesis that establishes that development is not the same as growth, that is possible to achieve development in dimensions of social personal daily relations, in relations within the environment without the actual oriented behaviors that favors capital logic and its premise of continuous accumulation. According these authors Degrowth is an anticapitalistic movement looking for announcing critical contemporary questions, contradictions and capital actual crises, pointing a whole set of steps to be walked towards outside capital logic and ideology that values, incentivize desire and exceeding necessity. In dialogue with Ethics as science and its most recent studies, in which we mark the author Victoria Camps, Degrowth is worried with individuals choices and what mobilizes them, ways through which we should be living. According the author individual recognition towards its on not auto sufficient condition helps individual recognizing we are all vulnerable and in this context the spirit the majority of authors discussing the Degrowth so call as Gifted Degrowth Spirit and Economy of Happiness dialogues directly within individual search for governing his own vulnerabilities, comprehending, developing his virtues and practicing the good and his collective sense. This research and the movements contribution to the continuous and transforming construction of a Critical Social Psychology comes from the seek for a subject, whose subjectivity can be resigned, made free. According this exercise a real important worked concept was liberty. The movement was discussed focusing on its practical viabilities, importance, planetary dimensions and based on what most called my attention during the 3 International Conference on Degrowth, and which I had the chance to visit, that happened last September, 2102, in Venice. The main stream at this research was the own discussion towards Degrowth movement, its so called voices, and that were displayed and organized through analyses in this research from interlocution exercises and open, interdisciplinary, theorical and practical dialogues. This interlocution was methodological exercise capable to sum up the Degrowth voices and transport them inside the text, which became the research itself, so to give knowledge of this speaking subjects, that can be someone else and mediate his living in the world differently, and so to give knowledge of the movement itself. I do not intend to arrive at a specific conclusion towards this movement, because the goal is not to close and put an end on the debate, in the other hand the goal is to strength dialectics possibilities, critics, reflections, leaving to the reader the invitation to question himself when facing the so marked questions during the research, looking for himself, to himself and for the various existing alternatives possible, among them, the Degrowth
