Solutions Library Product

Imara Tech Multi-Crop Thresher

Target region Tanzania

Distributors/implementing organizations Imara Tech

Market suggested retail price 700 USD

Competitive landscape Pearl Millet Thresher

SDG targeted Goal 2: Zero hunger

Target user(s) Smallholder farmers

The Multi-Crop Thresher is manufactured in Tanzania. It is built using sheet metal, mild steel, nuts/bolts and welding rods and fabricated manually with a
Manufacturing/building method(s)
welding machine, hand tools, drill press and lathe.

Product Intellectual Property Patent in processInterview with representative

Imara Tech aims to make business-to-business sales to partner organizations specializing in the distribution and sales in rural areas. The product is also aimed
User Provision Model at entrepreneurs as an additional source of income. Users will be able to purchase MCTs at the fabrication workshops which also act as service centers for
machine repairs, showrooms, office space and storage areas. The company intends to provide loans for purchasing the machine.
Distribution to date 2750 units

The Multi-Crop Thresher (MCT) is a throw-in type thresher. This means that crops are fed into the machine from the top. Once they enter the threshing
chamber, a rotating drum beats the grains off of the stalks. Large chaff passes through to the exit of the chamber and expelled from the machine, while threshed
grain falls through a sieve-like structure called a concave. A fan blows dust and small chaff from the threshed grain, which then leaves the machine through an
exit chute to be collected in bags. The thresher is powered by a small 6.5 HP petrol engine. The MCT is made using sheet metal, mild steel, nuts/bolts, welding
Design specifications
rods and PPE.

The MCT is designed for portability in the field and around rural settings, it is equipped with two wheels. It also has an indented seat so that it easily fits onto the
back of a motorcycle rack.

Product schematics Not available

It is foreseen that the most common modes of failure can be repaired by local technicians. However, Imara Tech plans to use the MCT fabrication workshops as
Technical support
service centers for machine repairs.

Replacement components Sheet metal, mild steel, nuts/bolts

Lifecycle 5-10 years

The Multi-Crop Thresher is designed to thresh crops in a relatively short time compared to traditional threshing methods. It can process 1000 kgs of maize in 24
Manufacturer Specified Performance Targets
minutes

Vetted performance Testing by the manufacturer found the MCT to be up to 90 times faster than traditional methods of threshing.

Testing organizations Imara Tech

Safety The potential risks associated with this product include grain projectiles from the thresher and minor winding risk.

Complementary technical systems Entrepreneurs in villages can buy the machine and provide service to smallholder farmers, earning the operator up to 10 USD per hour.

Nwakaire, J. N., Ugwuishiwu, B. O., and Ohagwu, C. J., 2011, Design, Construction, and Performance Analysis of a Maize Thresher for Rural Dweller. Nigerian
journal of technology, Vol. 30.
Academic research

Compliance with regulations None

Evaluation methods The manufacturer indicates that based on field trials, the machine is able to thresh 1000 kgs of grains in 24 minutes.

Other information Youtube video showing how the thresher works

Below are the performance parameters of the

products being compared:

Feedstock type Maize, sorghum, barley, and rice

Feedstock rate (kg/hr) 2500 kg/hr

Manual or motorized Motorized

Energy requirement (W) 4847 W

Portable or stationary Portable