Experience in Building Inter-row Weeders for Small-scale Farmers

Malaysia

Manual Weeders

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Mechanical Weeders

• The need to to cater to 3 groups of small-scale farm sizes:I. 1.5 ha or less

II. 1.5 to 6 ha

III. 6 to 15 ha

Grass Cutters for Power Source

Modified Grass Cutters

Talib Mark I

Motorised Weeder

Talib Mark II

Conclusion 1

•The gearing factor (high rev meant for grass cutting) not suitable for inter-row weeding job.•Operator has little control.•Not sufficient power for two-row task.

Inspired by Japanese Videos

7-row Portable Weeder

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Four-Row Weeder

Coclusion 2

•Unsuitable gearing factor•High rev to generate sufficient power•Operator does not have total control at high rev

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This design did not even float

Conclusion 3

• Team gave up the idea of designing mechanised weeders that farmers could improve on

• Use custom-made weeders

Custom-made inter-row weeder

Indonesian Power Weeders

Conclusion 4

•Good, workable, affordable•Uo to five rows (Indonesian manufacturer)•Up to 25-day old plants

Attempts at Group II Farm-size

•More drive train power – 2.5 to 3 h.p.• Light• To enable working up to 40-day old crop• To have at least 3-speed control• Independent wheel-breaking to make turning easy

First prototype for higher clearance

Modified Garden Tillers

5.5 hp

Field Tests by State DOA, Kedah

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Field Tests by State DOA, Perak

First Prize - Farm Innovation 2012

DOA, Malaysia

First Prize – Farm Group Leader 2013

Conclusion 5

• Power train over actual need• Better wheel design sufficient to perform weeding task•Up to 40% of plants damaged at turning point, reduced if turning made outside farm plot• A seating arrangement and power linkage to weeding wheel may cover Group III farm-size

Group III farm size (and beyond)

Inspired by Japanese Video

11-Row Rotary Weeder Behind Transplanting Tractor

Row-Weeder Attached to Mini-Tractors

Clay Soil Needs More Standing Water

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CONCLUSION

•Agricultural workers at large need to be convinced of positive effect of weeding beyond just controlling weeds. Working the rows is agronomicaly good for crop.

Thank you