Design & construction of a Soil Cultivation Tractor for Small Scale

Farming

Investigators: Mr. Tewodros Mebrahtu

(Mob: +251 914321157, E-mail: tedymebrahtu@gmail.com

Faculty of Mechanical Engineering

Arba Minch Institute of Technology
Arba Minch University

Co-Principle Investigators: Mr. Habtewolde Ababu (Energy Expert)

Mr. Adane kassa (Thermal Expert),
Mr. Kibrom Menasbo. H (Automotive Expert),
Dr. Joshua SC Isaac Joshua Ramesh Lalvani (Automotive Expert),
Mr. Praveen kumar. S (Design and Manufacturing Expert)
Faculty of Mechanical Engineering,

Arba Minch Institute of Technology

Arba Minch University

A Technology transfer Project Proposal submitted to

Arba Minch Institute of Technology
Arba Minch University

2021 Arba Minch, Ethiopia

1. ABSTRACT

A soil cultivation tractor for small-scale farming is the goal of this project, which includes the
design and construction of the tractor. Ethiopia’s economy is based on agriculture, which is its
backbone. The agricultural sector involves a lot of field work, such as weeding, reaping, sowing, and
other activities. Because agriculture was the primary source of income for the majority of the
population, farmers required hand tools to complete their tasks, improve labor productivity and quality
of work, and as a result, poor productivity and low yield were the result. MAE (Multipurpose
Agriculture Equipment) was developed to address these issues. We have developed agriculture, and it
is necessary to find new ways to increase efficiency in this sector. For example, one approach is to use
available information technology in the form of more intelligent machines to reduce and target energy
inputs in more effective ways than has been done in previous years. Due to the introduction of a new
concept, it is now possible to develop a completely new range of agricultural equipment that is based
on small smart machines that can do the right thing, in the right place, at exactly the right time, and in
the correct manner.

2. BACKGROUND

Ethiopia's economy is centered on agriculture; Ethiopia's economy and industry are centered on
agriculture, as in all growing countries. Teff, Corn, Sorghum, Wheat, Barley, and Millet provide for
almost half of a typical household's daily caloric consumption. Cereal cultivation employs around 60%
of rural workers and occupies 80% of arable land. Cereals account for 40% of overall household food
budgets. The World Food Program estimates that 46% of Ethiopians are malnourished, highlighting
the need to increase domestic grain production.
Ethiopia's agricultural potential is well known, but lack of agricultural machinery, inadequate
irrigation, and insufficient use of fertilizers, pesticides, and certified seed have prevented it from
reaching its full potential. However, Ethiopian government plans and operations focus on agriculture
and promise optimistic results. Many grain products have increased by nearly 100% in the recent
decade. A country's agricultural economy means that food production accounts for over 40% of
manufacturing output (especially vegetable oil, bakery products and sugar).
Land development is the most expensive operation in the farming industry. Clearing jungle,
opening soil with deep tillage equipment, moving soil from high to low spots, constructing farm roads,
bunding and levelling fields, and so on are all part of the process. For these operations, self-propelled
and heavy equipment such as crawler tractors with heavy duty ploughs and dozers, high horsepower
tractors with dozing and hoeing attachment, scrapers, ditchers, chisel ploughs and other similar
implements are required. Other tools include subsoilers, terracers, levellers, and other similar tools.
Cultivation operations, which are defined as mechanical manipulation of soil, are carried out in order
to achieve the desired seedbed, which is then used to provide the best possible environment for seed
germination and plant development.

Figure 1 – Ethiopia: Percent agricultural land, 1961 – 2018

The data provided for Ethiopia from 1961 to 2018. The average value for Ethiopia during that
period was 43.26 percent with a minimum of 29.31 percent in 2004 and a maximum of 54.07 percent
in 1972. The latest value from 2018 is 33.56 percent. For comparison, the world average in 2018 based
on 193 countries is 38.10 percent. It clearly evident from the data, the country’s performance didn’t
met the expectation, these is because of the higher cost and non-availability and affordability of the
agricultural instruments.

1.1 A Review on Power Tiller

Power tiller is designed mainly for tilling of seedbed in small farms and in hill farming and
also for carrying out spraying operations in horticultural crops and food crops. The adoption of power
tillers by the farmers for carrying out farming operations is low when compared to tractors. The
concept of power tiller came to the world in the year 1920. The first country to use power tiller on
large scale was Japan. The first successful model of power tiller was designed in the year 1947. During
the year 1950 to 1965 the production of power tiller increased rapidly. Power tiller was introduced in
India during 1963. Power tiller is a walking type tractor. The operator trails behind the power tiller,
holding the two handles of tiller in his hands. Power tiller is also called as a single axle walking type
tractor, though a seat is provided in some designs. Power tillers have been especially designed and
developed for use on small or medium farms where four wheel tractors are not easily available.
Although power tiller is mainly used for seedbed preparation in low land paddy fields.

Fig 1.1 Power

tillers

Power tiller is also used as a power source for other agricultural operations such as seed bed
preparation, sowing and fertilizer application. Tillers are also useful in intercultural in wide
spaced row crops (more than 1.0 m row to row spacing) and harvesting of cereal crops
under upland conditions including transportation of farm products and power source for stationary
farm operations. Lightweight tillers are being used very recently. The most of the power tillers being
manufactured in India is provided with a rear mounted powered rotary unit for giving forward
movement as well as tillage operation. Special attention is necessary for maintaining such tillers.
Two-wheel tractors are sometimes called by other names such as single axle tractor, hand
tractor, walking tractor, etc. The two-wheel tractor with different attachments can accomplish many
kinds of farm work like tillage, harvesting, planting and transportation. When a tillage implement is
attached to a two-wheel tractor, it is called power-tiller. Two wheel tractors are categorized either as
professional farm use tractors called agricultural tractors, or hobby-use tractors called garden tractors.
The required total life of a hobby- use tractor has been said to be about 150 hours.
Most of the agricultural equipment’s in Ethiopia are imported from other countries. For this
purpose developing locally made Soil Cultivation Tractor for Small Scale Farming, is economically
significant. However, the locally made soil cultivation machine is not available. So taking these
considerations, a Soil Cultivation Tractor for the Small Scale Farming is proposed to cater
the country’s need.
 3. PROBLEM STATEMENTS

The Soil Cultivation Tractor for Small Scale Farming is the most important piece of
equipment, especially in a country with a rapidly developing agricultural based economy like
Ethiopia. It is necessary to improve soil conditions by reducing evaporation from the soil surface,
improving infiltration of rain or surface water, reducing runoff in order to maintain ridges or beds
on which the crop is grown, and reducing competition between weeds for light, nutrients and water.
Many farmers are interested in using scientific equipment’s in agricultural utilization, but they are
unsure about the design process or how to get it up and running properly. A Soil Cultivation
Tractor for Small Scale Farming has the potential to be an extremely profitable enterprise and also
useful for small scale farmers. Looking at our local market requirements, we can see that there are
various sorts of farming equipment. The commercially available one that is imported is the most
extensively used of these.

4. OBJECTIVES

To design and construct a soil cultivation tractor for small scale farming and create new machines for
the community and access to farming for all rural farmers in our country.

4.1 General objective

To design and construct of a soil cultivation tractor for small scale farming.

4.2 Specific Objective

 design of frame
 design of sprocket
 design of shaft
 design of key
 design of coupling
 bearing selection
 welding design
 design of embodiment and other accessories
 5. SIGNIFICANT OF THE PROJECT

The project is to provide farmers with multipurpose equipment that implements all of the scientific
farming specifications and technology in order to produce the highest possible yields of high-quality
crops while reducing the amount of money invested and the number of people employed. There are a
variety of tractor-powered equipment options that are both suitable and cost-effective for larger tracts
of land. In the gardening industry, there is much hand-pulled equipment that is only suitable for
gardening purposes.

6. SCOPE OF THE PROJECT

In order to carry out cultivation, the farmer must use a variety of agricultural equipment and labors.
Our machine is to combine all of the individual tools into multipurpose equipment that lowers the
overall equipment and labor costs while also increasing yields of crops by implementing scientific
farming methods. Using the design and construction of a soil cultivation tractor for small-scale
farming, the method will be tested

7. IMPLEMENTATION APPROACH

7.1 Data collection

Throughout the work, we use both primary and secondary data collection methods.

• Primary data collection by direct observing myself the problem of on farming sold peoples and by

Interviewing persons.

• Secondary data collection by using internet sites and different books which related to my project
design.
7.2 Material selection

The components of the small scale tractor machine will be greatly depending on the mechanical
properties of material used for each components of the machine used for each component to avoid
failure.
.

7.3 Procedure

Mathematical design analysis of each component the main physical parameters of the design are
determined through the appropriate calculations and practical considerations with reasonable
assumptions. The purpose of the design calculations is, to choose reasonable dimensions of the parts
based on the assumptions and the predictions of possible stresses and forces in the major parts of a
device. So that it will satisfy the design objectives sketch part and assembly drawing of the project clear
and net drawing with dimension Develop (manufacturing) of components of small scale tractor machine
based on the dimension and material.

7.3. BENEFICIARIES

The project replaces the use of imported farm equipment’s, thus helps the local farmers. The
project assures the local entrepreneur development and does provide the economic growth to the
society. Entrepreneurs stimulate employment growth by generating new jobs when they enter the
market. The Small Scale Flour Making machine extractor will develop a new business model. The
development of Small Scale Flour Making machine has a numerous economic benefits exported one
8. SCHEDULE AND BUDGET PLAN

8.1 WORK PLAN

It is important to plan the project and to monitor the progress to achieve the gradual improvement
towards the completion of the project. The tabular column below explains the plan of the project month-
wise.

S.No Activities Month 1 Month Month 6 Month 7

1 Purchase of materials 2,3,4 & 5
2 Design and development of machine
Preparation of work manual for
3
Training
machine the community
4

8.2. Budget Cost Breakdown

Material costs

S. List Description Qty Unit Total

No. Price Price
1 Mild Steel Sheet metal 1m*2m*5mm 1 10000 10000
2 Solid mild Steel rod Dia 30mm, 4m 1000 4000
3 Bearing Block 2205 2m 1500 3000
4 RHS Plate 40mm*40mm*2mm 6m 1000 5000
5 Diesel engine, long shaft 5hp 1 30000 30000
6 Bolt ,Nut & Washer M10 20 10,00 200
7 Angle iron 40mm*40mm*2mm 6m 1000 6000
8 Bolt ,Nut & Washer M8 40 10 400
9 V Belt Type (A35) 2 200 400
10 V Belt Type (A45) 2 200 400
11 electrode D 2.5 1 300 300
12 Portable grinding machine Medium size 1 6000 6000
13 Grinding machine Large size 1 10000 10000
14 Grinding and cutter wheel 10 200 2000
15 Hacksaw frame Medium size 1 500 500

16 Hacksaw blade Metal cutting blade 20 80 1600

17 Safety shoes 1 set 1 2500 2500

18 Portable drill machine Medium size 1 6000 6000

Drill Bit HSS 1set 3000 3000

Total 91,300.00

Human resource

S.No. List of professional No.of Wages/day Duration(days) Total cost

persons
1 Experienced technician 05 300 30 (Birr)
45,000.00
Total 45,000.00

Budget Summary

S.No. Type / Item Total cost (Birr)

1 Material cost 91,300.00
3 Human resource 45,000.00
5 Stationary items (write up & reporting) 1000
Total 137,300.00
9. REFERENCES

1. Farmer.gov.in, https://farmer.gov.in/dacdivision/Machinery1/chap1.pdf

2. Fao.org,http://www.fao.org/3/i6583e/i6583e.pdf

3. Oecd.org,https://www.oecd.org/greengrowth/sustainable-agriculture/2739771.pdf

4. Machine design book T.V sundararajamoorthy N.shanmugan

5. P.S. Tiwari, L.P. Gite, Evaluation of work-rest schedules during operation of a rotary power tiller,
aAgricultural Mechanization Division, CIAE, Nabibagh, Berasia Road, Bhopal., India.

6. C.S. Sahay, E.V. Thomas, K.K. Satapathy, Performance evaluation of a novel power- tilleroperated
oscillatory tillage implement for dry land tillage, Division of Farm Machinery and Post-Harvest
Technology, Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute, Uttar Pradesh.

7. Subrata Kr. Mandal, Atanu Maity, Development and Performance Evaluation of a Light
Weight Power Tiller, Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute M.G. Avenue, Durgapur.

8. Machine design book edited by prof.N.BORODIN