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Combine-Harvester: A New Introduction in Agriculture in Parsa District, Nepal
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
Mr. Kasim Ansari, a progressive farmer from Kauwavan Kataiya-3, Parsa district, Nepal had been facing labor scarcity problem at transplanting/planting and harvesting & threshing of Rice and Wheat crops. Though, he owned a 4-W tractor he was not able to cultivate his all 21 ha land. He was forced to leave some of his land fallow. His late transplanted/sown rice and wheat crops were, some times, damaged by natural calamities e.g. rainfalls, hailstorms,and storms at crop maturity. In rice crops, grain shattering and grass-hoppers’ damage of matured panicles made him serious. Apart from that, manual harvesting charge of 12.5 % and threshing charge of 10 % made the farming more expensive.
To avoid the above problems, Mr. Ansari has purchased a 105 hp “Dasmesh” Combine-Harvester from Dasmesh Mechanical Works, Raikot Road, Malerkotla, Punjab, India with an investment of about 18 lakh NRs. on 2062/12/20 i.e. April 2, 2006 (Entry date in Nepal). The capacity of the combine is 1 ha/h to 1.2 ha/h with the cutting width of 12 ft and grain storage capacity of 14 Quintals. He hired the operators from Punjab, India, and paid 40, 000 NRs./season as operator’s charge +100 Rs./ha (harvested area)+daily meals for 4 persons (1 foreman+2 operators+ 1 helper) +2000 NRs. as one-way train fare.
The objectives for purchasing the combine were: timely completion of rice and wheat harvesting & threshing, lowered production cost, minimized weather risks, avoid grain losses, overcome the labor scarcity problem, proper utilization of all land areas, and hiring out.
Mr. Kasim said that the combine was operated for a week only (about 70 hours) in the season as it arrived late. With the 8 lit/h diesel consumption, he could harvest his 21 ha land and hired out @17 %-20 % grain share basis to 50 farmers on 2 villages in Parsa district and received about 100 quintals grain. He added no grain losses were found as the small grains like “ Tori” were collected. He said smilingly that mental burden and drudgery are relieved and time saving is observed. He expressed that the combine will serve more during rice season enabling the users for timely establishment of winter crops with 20 % -25 % increased production.
He wishes to operate the combine-harvester by his tractor operators. He expressed that high investment was needed but he could not receive loan from Govt. Bank and is paying 36 % interest on his investment (partial). Service owning farmers are happy to have the combine –harvester in their locality. While, Mr. Ansari is happy to become the first combine owner in Parsa district, Nepal.
(Text received from Ganesh Sah)
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