Sustainability-assessment for farm-machinery

Debesh Mishra and Suchismita Satapathy ()
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Debesh Mishra: Sage University
Suchismita Satapathy: KIIT Deemed to be University

International Journal of System Assurance Engineering and Management, 2022, vol. 13, issue 5, No 5, 2165-2174

Abstract: Abstract Most of the commercially existing harvesters used in present day agricultural applications are costly that the small-scale farmers cannot afford because of financial-constraints. Moreover, due to the non-availability of these harvesters in most of the rural-areas, the farmers find difficulties in accessing or utilizing these machines in their farming purposes. The aim of this study was to fabricate and evaluate a modified smaller, economic, more accessible and effective crop harvester. This research was carried out by an in-depth review of literature followed by discussion with the local-farmers, manufacturers of agricultural tools and machines, which was further followed by consultation with experts from various areas of expertise in order to get information regarding the availability as well as features of existing equipment, and finally a modified harvester was fabricated based on these data. Then, the cutting-efficiency for existing and modified harvester in agricultural field was calculated followed by ergonomic postural analysis of farmers while operating that equipment. The “strength, weaknesses, opportunities as well as threats” analysis was done by considering the existing as well as the modified harvester, which was further followed with the sustainability evaluation of modified harvester by using a designed “Sustainability-Assessment Questionnaire for Farm-Machinery” in view of its environmental, economical and social implications in agriculture in addition to the ergonomic-aspects. The average cutting-efficiency of ‘99.24% and 99.81%’ were obtained by considering three consecutive operations with the existing and modified harvester, respectively.The modified harvester was further found to be suitable with ergonomic aspects and also, more sustainable based on the farmers’ responses. The sustainability of any agriculture related tools and equipment can be achieved through adequate attention on the ergonomic aspects of comfortable-working.

Keywords: Harvesting; Modified harvester; Sustainability; Ergonomics; REBA; SWOT; Sustainability-Assessment Questionnaire for Farm-Machinery; SAQFM (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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DOI: 10.1007/s13198-022-01622-4

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