Development and evaluation of motorized maize shelter

Abstract

Production of maize in Uganda has constantly been increasing since 1991. The bulk of the crop is shelled using traditional methods, which cause high drudgery, and results into products of low market value. According to the Participatory Rural Appraisal survey conducted in 1995 by Agricultural Engineering and Appropriated Technology Research Institute. AEATRI. lack of appropriate maize sheller was identified among factors that impair this positive production trend. Following the survey, AEATRI embarked on developing a motorised maize sheller with a view to solving this problem. A proto-type w as designed, fabricated and tested on-station. This did not give expected results. It was bulky with low throughput (670kg/hr) and rather expensive. Major changes were made in its shelling mechanism to produce the second proto-type. This was tested both on-station and on-farm mainly with Longe-I maize variety. There was significant improvement in performance. Its output was 1 ton/hr of clean grain and fuel consumption was 1 It/ton of clean grain. This proto-type was further improved. The on-station and on-farm tests on the third proto-type using Longe-I maize variety yielded satisfactory results with an output of 1.25 tons/hr ofclean grain with a fuel consumption of 0.77 lt/ton ofclean grain. Shelling efficiency was 99.7% and unbroken grain was 2%. After these tests, the institute has recommended that the third proto-type may now be released for mass production.