THE ‘TEK MECHANICAL CASSAVA HARVESTER’
The modernization of agriculture in Africa has been hindered to some extent by technological advancements in the sector. The necessity for financial investment into equipment and technology for further development in the sector, has led to an agricultural revolution. In view of this, a machine made in Ghana is contributing to the revolution. What are the benefits of this machine and how does it work? Read on to find out more.
In Ghana’s Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), a group, led by a professor, from the Agricultural Engineering Department has invented a cassava harvesting machine. The machine, known as ‘Tek Mechanical Cassava Harvester’ (TEK-MCH), is meant to address the challenge of commercially harvesting root and tuber crops such as yam and cassava.
The TEK-MCH can harvest a hectare of root and tuber crops within a maximum of 2 hours. The inventor, Prof. Emmanuel Y.H. Bobobee, says the original idea was composed in 1994 but the machine itself was never developed until 2011. Funding from the West Africa Agricultural Productivity Project (WAAPP) was what finally brought about its physical manufacturing.
Since its induction, the machine has been used by several farmers and evaluated by experts in Ghana and South Africa. One of the cassava producers in Ghana to use the product, describes its impact as “immeasurable” in his production process. We are optimistic for the future of TEK-MCH. What are your views on this invention? Please let us know in the comments below.
Source: AgricinGhana