Evaluation and Demonstration of Maize Shellers for Small-Scale Farmers

Abstract

Reducing post harvest losses is a central task to ensure food security and increase income of smallholder farmers as well as facilitate food availability to local and international markets. Maize is one of the major food crops produced in Ethiopia and with high post losses. The stages of post harvest loss span from harvesting to final consumption. Threshing or shelling is one of the major stages of post harvest loss in maize production. Traditional threshing incurs huge loss, is full of drudgery and consumes time. To reduce the loss and improve the working condition of our farmers, Bahir Dar Agricultural Mechanization and Food Science Research Center (BAMFSRC) adapted two maize Shellers; viz, cylindrical (also known as handheld) and motorized Shellers. These technologies were demonstrated and evaluated by farmers in different parts of Amhara Region. The results indicated that these technologies, part of the small and medium mechanization tools, are compatible to the smallholders. Scaling out and up of these technologies through supply and demand driven mechanisms is essential to realize the benefits from employing the technologies.