MECHANISATION OF SMALL SCALE ONION PLANTATION Page1 AGRICULTURAL MECHANISATION OF SMALL SCALE ONION PLANTATION IN MAURITIUS MINISTRY OF AGRO-INDUSTRY & FOOD SECURITY APRIL 2016 B.TANDARAYEN
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AGRICULTURAL MECHANISATION
OF SMALL SCALE ONION
PLANTATION IN MAURITIUS
MINISTRY OF AGRO-INDUSTRY & FOOD SECURITY
APRIL 2016
B.TANDARAYEN
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I would like to express my gratitude to the Chief Agricultural
Officer, Mr Punchoo and the Deputy Permanent Secretary, Mr
Teeloku for giving the opportunity to the Engineering Division of
the Ministry of Agro Industry & Food Security to provide its
inputs in this project.
15 APRIL 2016
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Acknowledgement I
Table of contents II
1.0 Introduction 1
2.0 Agricultural mechanisation 2
3.0 Status of agricultural mechanisation in Mauritius 3
3.1 Looking back at the history of agricultural mechanisation in
Mauritius 3
3.2 Need for mechanisation 4
4.0 Mechanisation of onion production 4
4.1 Nursery bed preparation 5
4.2 Land preparation 6
4.2.1 Tractor 6
4.2.2 Rotary power tiller 8
4.3 Planting 9
4.3.1 Tillage operation 9
4.3.2 Harrowing operation 10
4.4 Sowing/Transplanting/ Plant propagation 10
4.5 Irrigation 11
4.5.1 Surface irrigation 11
4.5.2 Sub-surface irrigation 12
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4.5.3 Sprinkler irrigation 12
4.5.4 Drip irrigation 13
4.6 Weeding 13
4.6.1 Power weeder 14
4.7 Plant protection 14
4.7.1 Knapsack sprayer 15
4.7.2 Motorised knapsack mist blower 16
4.7.3 Tractor mounted sprayers 16
4.8 Harvesting 17
4.9 Grading, packaging, transportation and storage 19
4.10 Land clearing 20
5.0 Issues and constraints in the adoption of agricultural
mechanisation 21
5.1 Requirements 22
6.0 Engineering Division 23
6.1 Experience and training 24
7.0 Conclusions 25
1.0 INTRODUCTION
Food security had become an increasingly important agenda especially with the
climate change in the island countries in the Indian Ocean. Modernising the
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agriculture industry requires infusion of the needed agricultural infrastructures,
development of agricultural enterprises and mechanisation in the countryside.
As in the experience of other advanced countries, agricultural mechanisation
played a key role in raising production and market efficiencies. Of all the
modern agricultural technologies introduced however, mechanisation is
probably one of the most controversial. Mechanisation is usually blamed for
escalating rural unemployment. The trend however, that most of the younger
generations is now more inclined to “urbanisation” will make mechanisation a
very important agenda to help attain food security. Due to the tedious nature of
work involved in the agricultural sector, agricultural mechanisation plays a
pivotal role in sustaining this industry.
Onions are one of the oldest vegetables in continuous cultivation dating back to
at least4,000 BC. The ancient Egyptians are known to have cultivated this crop
along the Nile River. Onions are among the most widely adapted vegetable
crops. They can be grown from the tropics to subarctic regions. This adaptation
is primarily due to differing response to day length.Onion (Allium cepa) is a
vegetable crop grown almost all over the world. It is grown mainly for its bulb,
which is used in every home, almost daily. It is rarely used as a sole dish or in
large quantities. Its main use lies in flavouring and seasoning of a wide variety
of dishes. Its popularity is due to its aromatic, volatile oil, the allyl-prophl
sulphide which imports a cherished flavour to food. As a constituent of a meal,
both the green leaves and bulbs can be eaten raw, cooked, or in soups and
salads. Onion also has an important role as a medicinal herb in many
communities, and is claimed to minimise high blood pressure and other heart
diseases due to its favourable action on the elasticity of blood vessels.
Onions grow best on fertile, well-drained soils. Most sandy loam, loamy sand or
sandy soils are also advantageous to sweet onion production. These soils are
inherently low in sulphur, which allows greater flexibility in sulphur
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management to produce sweet onions. Avoid soils with heavy clay content and
coarse sandy soils. Clay soils tend to have a higher sulphur content that can lead
to pungent onions. Sandy soils are difficult to manage because they require
more fertilizer and water.
2.0 AGRICULTURAL MECHANISATION
Over the last few years, there has been considerable progress in terms of
Research & Development in agriculture mechanisation worldwide. It is
generally believed that the benefits of modern technology have been restricted
to farmers with large land-holdings. Yet the fact remains that even small
farmers are adopting and utilising selected farm equipment for efficient farm
management through custom hiring. Mechanical equipment for various farm
operations like tillage, sowing, irrigation, plant protection and threshing are
generally being used by the farming community in Mauritius.
Today we have improved implements such as Mould Board plough, puddle,
disc harrow, peg tooth harrow, spring line harrow being more efficient have
been adopted. Further, use of sowing or planting devices is also registering a
higher growth due to their impact on seed and fertiliser use.
Agricultural mechanisation is the process whereby equipment, machineries and
implements are utilised to boost agricultural and food production. It is the
application of machineries, equipment and implements in the day to day farm
activities to increase marginal output in food production and poverty
eradication.
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3.0 STATUS OF AGRICULTURAL MECHANISATION IN MAURITIUS
Generally, the level of farm mechanisation in Mauritius remains low compared
to other countries. Majority of the farmers in the country mainly rely on the
contributions from human powers and some from mechanical power.
3.1 Looking back at the history of Agricultural Mechanisation in Mauritius
During the colonial era, mechanised farming where animal and machine powers
wereextensively used was mainly focused in sugarcane and sugar production. In
other cultivation, growers were just reliant on farm hand tools and animal
power.
After the post-independence of Mauritius, four-wheel tractors, and associated
farm machineryand equipment were introduced to meet the new challenges in
sustainabledevelopment of the agriculture sector. Introduction of large four-
wheel drive tractorsand associated machineries and equipment in the sugar
industry was a majorchallenge for the benefit of the industry. Use of these
machines was concentrated inthe sugar industry, which enjoyed assured market
in the United Kingdom. Large scale mechanisation activities were also
undertaken by the private consortium.
Towards the end of the last century, more sophisticated and appropriate
agriculturalfarm machineries and equipment were introduced to meet the
demands of the modernagricultural farming. A wide range of farm machines
and associated equipment wereavailable and introduced in the country from
various company dealers, but withoutmuch emphasis on applied research for
testing and evaluation on the applicability andappropriate use of these machines
to suit our local conditions.
With the down-fall of the assured price of sugar operations, and deregulation of
the sugar industry, the mechanisation priorities within the ministry also had a
setback.
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3.2 Need for Mechanisation
Farm mechanisation continues to play pivotal role as part of the agronomical
practices to ensure economic viability of the agriculture sector. Mauritian
farmers had been struggling for ages to transform agricultural farming practices
from traditional method of production to modern farming technologies. The
mechanisation technologies are very efficient and thus yields higher farm
returns in terms of export earnings and as food security.
The importance of using the appropriate tools and machines in farm operations
cannot be overemphasised, as mechanisation increases labour efficiency, eases-
up the drudgery of farm work, saves time and promotes technical accuracy.
Moreover, the level of mechanisation technology increases as the source of
power shifts from human to animal to mechanical power
4.0 MECHANISATION OF ONION PRODUCTION
The quality and yield of onion crop can be increased by adopting quality
planting materials and modern production techniques.
Most of the field operations in onion production are labour intensive and
traditional tools do not yield quality output. In Mauritius, the scarcity of labour
is highly being felt and in the years to come it will be even more difficult to find
people willing to work in the agricultural fields. Hence the need to go for
efficient power operated equipment to improve the yield of onion production in
Mauritius.
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The mechanisation of onion production can be effected in most of the
following:
I Nursery/seedling preparation
II Land preparation (Power operated equipment)
III Seeding
IV Plant protection/pest control
V Weeding
VI Irrigation system (Sprinkler/drip)
VII Harvesting
together with grading, handling packing and transportation.
These are major part of mechanisation activities.
Efficient equipment and machinery are commercially available locally and
abroad (India and China) and can be used to remedy the scarcity and cost of
labour and at the same time to improve the quality of the operations and quality
of products.
4.1Nursery bed preparation
Nursery beds are prepared for raising the seedlings for transplanting. The land is
normally selected at higher elevation to avoid water logging. After initial
preparation of the land, the raised nursery bed are made by the use of hand tools
or by using bed formers.
A proposal for Mauritius might be the use of greenhouse or shed cultivation for
raising seedlings
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Figure 4.1 Seedling/ Nursery Bed Preparation
4.2Land Preparation
Onions are annual crops grown in specific regions in Mauritius. Onions are
grown in raised beds. Onion as a root crop require better tilth for good yield.
Tractor drawn implements such as mould board plough, disc harrows, and
cultivators are available for large scale plantation. However, small power tiller
can be used for small scale production, in addition to hand tools.
4.2.1Tractor: Farm Tractor is a self-propelled machine or equipment that pulls
or pushes tools or implements over the land. It is equipment designed and used
for farm operations for the purpose of land preparations, cultivation and
harvesting of crops.
Mainly used for power machinery, agriculture of different types,
walking/handheld equipment, wheeled and crawler tractors. In accordance with
the horsepower is divided into small (less than 40 horsepower), medium (40
horsepower and 70 horsepower), large (more than 70 horsepower tractor).
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For the mechanisation of onion plantation, small capacity tractors ranging from
25 to 40 Hp will be optimum for the purpose.
Figure 4.2 Small-scale Tractor & Large Scale Tractor
Some of the implements are:
Disc plough and mouldboard plough
Disc Harrow and mouldboard Harrow
Disc Ridger and mouldboard Ridger
Boom Sprayer and Gun Sprayer
Seed Planter and Cassava Planter
Fertilizer Spreader
Figure 4.3 Cultivator Figure 4.4 Disc Plough Figure 4.5 Chisel Plough
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4.2.2Rotary Power Tiller: Rotary power tiller also known as two wheeled
tractor is light duty agricultural equipment used for tilling operation.
It is affordable in price when compared with the four wheeled tractors, for the
small and medium scale farmers. It could be used on undulating terrain and
fragile soil. It is portable and can be used or taken to the interior farmlands
where there is no access road for big tractors. The affordability of this
equipment in terms of low price to local farmers will definitely make the onion
production to increase considerably.
The rotary power tiller, apart from tilling operation could also perform the
following: ploughing, wet pudding, ridging, cultivating, water pumping,
planting and weeding operations while making use of appropriate implement.
The equipment in conjunctions with the trailer could be used to transport the
appropriate implement to be used in the fields and could also be used to bring or
convey farm produce from the field to the main access road.
The equipment is economical, safe and efficient in use than manual operation. It
can perform tilling operation of about 1.25 hectares of land per day.
Figure 4.6 Power Tillers for Land Preparation
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There exist different types of power tiller and it is chosen according to the type
of soil and the engine capacity will vary and the type of implement is fitted
accordingly.
4.3Planting
Mechanisation plays a vital role in enhancing sustainable food production,
thereby boosting food security in Mauritius as exemplified in various
mechanised operations in the farm that has to do with planting, germination,
growth and weed control of the crops.
4.3.1 Tillage operation
To start with, the land to be cultivated goes through the first tillage operation
of soil breaking making use of Disc Plough which is one of the first tillage
implement.
Figure 4.7 Power Tillers for Planting Operation
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4.3.2 Harrowing operation
Harrowing operation which is breaking of the soil into smaller particles so as to
achieve fine soil texture, making use of either tractor mounted or trailing Disc
Harrow is carried out.
Figure 4.8Harrowing for Large Scale
4.4 Sowing/Transplanting/ Plant Propagation
Some vegetables seeds are directly sown, while seedlings of onion are raised in
nursery for transplantation. Below is a typical transplanter which can be used
for onion seedlings:
Figure 4.9Transplanter
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4.5Irrigation
Water from different sources, from irrigation canal and from pipes for irrigation
purposes, is applied to the crops by various methods. The four common
methods employed are:
I Surface irrigation
II Sub-surface irrigation
III Sprinkle irrigation
IV Drip irrigation
Different types of pumps, pumping systems, sprinkler irrigation and drip
irrigation are available in addition to surface irrigation methods practiced by
growers in Mauritius.
The most important factor to consider is the determination of the appropriate
type of irrigation system for the plantation, then the design of the irrigation
network, together with the sizing of the water pump and appropriate selection.
Further the most economical design of the lay out of the piping network with
minimum wastage and leakages to ensure optimum use of water.
4.5.1 Surface Irrigation
Water is applied to the soil surface, that is, at ground surface level. The water
flows from a water channel to the field due to gravity. In surface irrigation water
may be distributed in border strips, check basins or furrows.
In Mauritius we can consider rain water collection in basins and irrigation by
gravity method through surface irrigation.
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4.5.2 Sub-surface Irrigation
It is the application of irrigation water below the ground surface, thereby
maintaining artificial water table. Water may be applied through open ditches
having a depth of 30 cm to 100cm, tile drains or mole drains. In case of open
ditches, they may be spaced 15m to 30m apart. Water reaches to the plant
through capillary action.
Sub-surface irrigation is normally used for soils having low water holding
capacity and high infiltration rate, where surface method cannot be used. The
plantation of onion will highly benefit from this method of irrigation.
4.5.3 Sprinkler Irrigation
Water is sprayed into air in the form of coarse droplets. Sprinkler irrigation,
being very easy to operate, is extensively used worldwide, as in Mauritius.
Water is subjected to pressure by pumping and discharged through small
orifices of nozzles, which break the liquid into coarse droplets. Nozzles are
mounted on rotating head to cover a circular pattern.
Sprinkler system is suitable for onion plantation. Sprinkler system is broadly
classified as rotating head system and perforated pipe system.
Figure 4.10Sprinkler Irrigation
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4.5.4 Drip Irrigation
Also known as trickle irrigation, it is one of the most efficient way of applying
irrigation water to crops. The efficiency of this method is around 90%. Water is
applied in the form of drops or very fine stream.
Drip irrigation is most suitable for orchard. Namely for widely spaced trees, it is
more economical than sprinkle irrigation.
Figure 4.11Drip Irrigation System
4.6 Weeding
Weeding is an important operation to remove the unwanted plants and weeds
from the crop as these compete with the desired crop, in our case onion, and
also draw nutrient from the soil which otherwise should only be available to the
crop. The aeration is equally important for proper growth of the onion.
Most of the weeding are done by using hand tools and manually operated
weeders. Onions are sown in lines, therefore manual weeders like wheel hoes
and other wheeled weeders can be used. Tractor drawn cultivators available
locally can be used at the initial stages of the crops. Through mechanical
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weeding, the weeds are uprooted and the soil is manipulated for aeration and
creating a soil mulch.
We can categorise the tools and implements for mechanical weed control on the
basis of power source: manual and power or tractor operated.
The manual tool include the sickle traditionally used in Mauritius, and is very
labour intensive and time consuming.
4.6.1 Power weeder
Mechanical weeding is done by the power weeder. It is a light weight diesel
engine mounted on a frame. From the engine, the power is transmitted to the
transmission gearbox and then to the ground wheels and rotary weeder. It is
suitable for wide spaced plantation onion.
Figure 4.12Power Weeder
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4.7 Plant protection
Vegetables and crops in Mauritius are highly affected by pests and diseases.
Thus in order to derive maximum outputs from the inputs and intensive
farming, it is necessary to combat the menace of insects, pests and other
diseases by the use of integrated pest management techniques including
pesticides. Despite the fact that the Entomology Division of the Ministry has
made intensive research and are encouraging the use of natural type baits,
planters and growers still want effective and immediate remedy to the problem
of pests and diseases, hence the use of pesticides.
The chemicals may be in liquid or powder form. The pesticides have to be
applied in the stipulated time frame, which calls the need of plant protection
equipment. These equipment can apply the chemicals in any form and cover
large area in the shortest possible time depending upon the type of equipment
used.
With the use of equipment it is possible to regulate the quantity of chemicals
and uniformly deposit it on the target area of the onion plantation at any stage of
growth.
4.7.1 Knapsack Sprayer
For onion plantation, knapsack sprayer, which fits comfortably on the operators
back. Its simple use of a lever operated pump and a lance fitted with nozzle,
make this type of sprayer quite popular in Mauritius.
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Figure 4.13 Knapsack Sprayer
4.7.2 Motorised knapsack mist blower
The most simple mechanised plant protection equipment is the motorised
knapsack mist blower which has a two stroke petrol engine and ranges from 25
cm3to 50 cm
3to which a centrifugal fan is connected. The fan produces a high
velocity air stream, which is diverted though a 900
elbow to a flexible discharge
hose which has a divergent outlet.
Figure 4.14Motorised knapsack mist blower
4.7.3 Tractor mounted sprayers
These are hydraulic energy sprayers. They utilise Power Take Off (PTO) of a
tractor to operate the pump of the sprayer. Basically the spray boom can be
arranged either as ground spray boom or overhead spray boom. For onion
plantation, to ensure an effective application, the ground spray boom will be
most appropriate. However the onion plantation has to take into account the
track width of the tractor and be planted in rows.
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Figure 4.15Tractor mounted sprayers
The complete sprayer is mounted on a three point linkages of the tractor. It uses
high pressure and high discharge pump as the number of nozzles may be up to
20 depending on the number of rows of the onion plantation.
4.8 Harvesting
Harvesting of onions is normally carried out using hand tools. Harvesters and
power operated diggers are available for harvesting onions in developed
countries. The plantation will have to be modified to accommodate these
equipment for harvesting.
The use of combine harvester and tractor mounted harvester makes agricultural
and food production to be easier, economical and fast.It also reduces wastage
usually encountered when manual method of harvesting is employed. The use of
combined harvester for the harvesting of grain crops such as rice, maize,
cowpea and soybean will definitely reduce wastage that the farmers usually face
when manual labourers were utilised. This is so because the harvester will cover
a large area of farm land and harvested large crops within a short period of time
when compared with what manual labourers will harvest in days.
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This practice of harvesting in a mechanised way makes farming operation to be
less drudgery and less fatigue. It also makes farming to be interesting and
satisfactory, which ultimately brings about increase in food production.
There are available and affordable, several large, medium and small scale
combined harvesters for the harvesting of grain and root crops such as onion, to
farmers, hence the role of agricultural mechanisation in the enhancement of
sustainable food production in the country cannot be over-emphasised.
In the harvesting of onion, agricultural mechanisationplays a vital role with the
use of the implement known as onion harvester. It is a tractor mounted
implement designed to uproot onion with little damage to the onion.
Figure 4.16Tractor Driven Onion Harvester
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4.9 Grading, Packaging, Transportation and Storage
All grading is done manually according to size and quality at the grower’s level
or at the seller’s level. Machines are used for grading according to size and
colour especially for onions.
Onions are packed in “Gunny” bags for transportation. In Mauritius
transportation form fields to selling point is done by lorries and vans normally
own by the growers.
Figure 4.17 Grading and Packaging
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To complete the above, in fact the first step in cultivation is land clearing,
normally meant for new growers:
4.10 Land Clearing
In the past, the traditional method of land clearing for food and agricultural
production was by manual labour with the use of cutlass, axe, hoe and other
farming hand tools. The problem associated with this system includes fatigue on
the part of the labourers, inability to get enough man power to carry out the
operation as at when needed or required. Most times when lands are cleared for
farming purpose, there still left behind stumps of shrubs, and trees felled which
makes it difficult for the rest of operation like ploughing, ridging etc. The
stumps damage equipment when used on the land and causes injury to labourers
working on the farm at long run.
In other to alleviate this aforementioned problems associated with the traditional
method of land clearing, mechanised system is introduced with the use of track
laying tractors otherwise called Bulldozer in construction site, to push down
trees and lift them to the edge of the land in such a way that the soil nutrients
will not be eroded from the surface of the soil.
Figure 4.18 Tractor (Bulldozer)
With this mechanised system, the area of land that will be cleared for several
weeks or months by several people using manual labour will be cleared and
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accomplished within two (2) days. The use of track laying tractors and other
heavy duty earth moving equipment for land clearing is efficient, economical
and fast in operation.
When used properly, soil nutrients and fertility are preserved since there is no
need for the use of fire to burn the grasses and off cut trees, instead they are
heaped at the edge of the farm land and left there to decay which ultimately
increase the soil fertility at that portion. When land clearing operation is
performed in a mechanised way the area to be cultivated will be much within a
limited time and it will boost food security in the nation
5.0 ISSUES AND CONSTRAINTS IN THE ADOPTION OF
AGRICULTURALMECHANISATION
The current status and trends of agricultural mechanisation in Mauritius can be
attributed to the following:
I. High cost of machines
II. Lack of promotion - lack of farmers’ awareness of new mechanisation
technologies (we need to put on record the job FAREI is doing to popularise
mechanisation technologies)
III. Poor quality of machines due to low capability of the local representatives
and also poor after sales service and support
IV Lack of access to formal credit facilities
V. Low income of farmers/small farm sizes - Landholding distribution in the
country also affects the pace of farm mechanisation.
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5.1 REQUIREMENTS
There is the need to make a national survey on onion growers in Mauritius
through designed questionnaires to both literate and illiterate farmers to extract
information from them.
For the illiterate, an assistant may be use to interpret and fill the questionnaires
for them.
The survey will help to obtain vital information such as:
(i) Size of farms/plantations, so as to decide on equipment capacity
(ii) Crops (Onion) variety grown, to ascertain the types of tools needed
(iii) Mechanisation machines available, to know their suitability vis-a-vis
improvement on them, to suit local conditions.
(iv) Extent of human muscle involvement in various farm operations, to
determine the extent of need of mechanisation machines in such operations.
(v) Ability to operate motorised machines, to know what type of machines to
import.
(vi)The levels of farmers’ proposed investment on farm tools, to ascertain their
financial capabilities in purchasing mechanisation machines.
(vii) Farming/planting experience in years
(viii) Availability of crop processing and storage facilities.
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6.0 ENGINEERING DIVISION
The Engineering Division being part of the Agricultural Services under the
Ministry of Agro-Industry & Food Security. Apart from providing Technical
and Engineering support to the Divisions and Departments under the Ministry,
the Engineering Division has the mandate to:
I. Monitor the implementation of new projects and introduction of new
technologies in the field of Agricultural Engineering;
II Assess the design consideration of locally manufactured/ modified farm
machinery and implements from prospective manufacturers/ individuals;
III Advise Ministries and Government Institutions on matters related to
Agricultural Engineering;
IV Assist in the formulation of Agricultural Engineering policies and in framing
of appropriate Engineering Legislation;
V Trials with, and adaptations to, farm equipment and agricultural support
equipment so that they respond better to local conditions;
VI Conducting and supervising research work in the field of Agricultural
Engineering, amongst others.
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6.1 EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING OF THE AUTHOR
The experience and exposure during the two training courses namely:
1. “Training course on Equipment and Technology for Processing and Value-
Addition to Agricultural Products at Small Scale/Rural Level” 16 to 27
October 2009.
was organised by the Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Bhopal,
India and was sponsored by the Afro-Asian Rural Development Organisation
(AARDO). The CIAE is a premier Institute in Agricultural Engineering in India
under ICAR. The institute is responsible for the development and modernisation
of Indian Agriculture through engineering application for increasing agricultural
production and productivity, processing and value addition to increase income
as well as rural employment generation, use of renewable and non-renewable
source of energy and reduction in drudgery in farm operations. It specialises in
Research and Development activities on land development, farm mechanisation,
irrigation and drainage engineering, processing of agro produces, efficient
utilisation of renewable energy and mechanical power sources.
2. “Training course on new technology popularising on agricultural
mechanisation for developing countries”15 October to 13 November 2013
was organized by the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Mechanization Sciences
(CAAMS) and was sponsored by the Department of Foreign Countries of the
Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China.
The training was attended by 27 participants from 16 countries.
The training consisted of intensive and very high level lectures from eminent
lecturers and researchers on topics such as Land preparation, Harvest, Post-
Harvest and Processing System, Equipment & Technology in Agriculture.
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Emphasis was laid on conservation agriculture through minimum tillage,
mechanised planting and harvesting; together with Research and Development
on means and ways to minimise waste after harvest through drying and
processing of produce of high quality.
The knowledge acquired during the two above named courses has provided
another insight of agricultural mechanisation, and will definitely enhance the
quality of the expertise in this field.
7.0 CONCLUSIONS
Today the demand for food is increasing at an exponential rate, worldwide. Mauritius
is not an exception. Hence, the need to go for sustainable agriculture to ensure food
security for the population.
The producers of onion need the expertise of the professionals in this sector, and the
Ministry of Agro-Industry & Food Security is a major player in this enterprise.
To ensure the efficient and effective production of onion at low cost and to counteract
the shortage of labour, the producers have to move from the traditional ways towards
more modern technologies in agriculture. One of them is the mechanisation of the
production of onions.
B.Tandarayen
Senior Engineer
15 APRIL 2016