Pre-extension Demonstration and Evaluation of Engine Maize Sheller Technology in the Selected AGP-II Districts of Harari Region and Dire Dawa Administration

doi:10.7176/fsqm/97-03

Abstract

The pre-extension demonstration of engine driven maize sheller helps to separate maize from the cob. The fabricated design consists of a body casing, drum, shelling unit, grain and cob discharge unit, machine frame, hopper (Feeding chute), bearing as some of the major component, It is powered by Honda motor connected the shelling unit. The machines were fabricated by Fadis agricultural research center were demonstrated and found to be about 95.88-97.2% efficient with output capacity of about 1800 -2000kg/hr. The design is relatively cheap, simple and portable when compared to imported product of similar capacity. Two FRGs containing 80 farmers were established and one machine per FRG was given for free to create wider awareness. Keywords: Maize Sheller, Engine driven, Demonstration, Harari and Dire Dawa DOI: 10.7176/FSQM/97-03 Publication date: May 31 st 2020

Highlights

Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the most important cereal crops in the world agricultural economy
Materials and Methods Description of the study area Pre-extension demonstration of Maize Sheller technology was conducted in Agricultural growth program-II nationally selected districts of Harari region and dire dawa administration council
Training of farmers and other stalk holders Multidisciplinary research team; Agricultural mechanization, Crop, extension and socio-economic research team and other stakeholders (Offices of Agriculture and Natural Resource) actively participated by sharing their experience and knowledge and journalists for the sake of publicity of the work done .Development agents, experts and farmers were participated on the training given on maize Sheller operating and management, post-harvest handling of maize

Summary

Introduction

Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the most important cereal crops in the world agricultural economy. It is a rich source of starch (60-80%), protein (8-12%), fat (3-5%) and minerals (1-2%) (Ashwin and Shaik, 2014).In Ethiopia, maize grows from moisture stress to high rainfall areas and from lowlands to the highlands It is one of the most important cereal crops grown in the country and is the main staple food in rural areas. The most commonly employed methods include manual rubbing maize cobs against one another, using human finger, stone, biting the cob with wooden plank, treading with animal and wire mesh by using iron cylinder All these are time consuming methods involving drudgery and exposure of crop over a time leads to natural hazards like rain, fire and loss of grains to animals, birds and insects. K., 2009. this proposal initiated to demonstrate engine Driven Maize Sheller Technology to alleviate farmers from those problems of traditional Maize shelling technologies in Harari region and Dire dawa administration council

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