Technical Feasibility and Economic Viability of Portable Limb Shaker in Apricot Harvesting at Union Territory of Ladakh, India
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.52151/jae2024614.1859Keywords:
fruit detachment force, harvesting efficiency, harvesting frequency, mechanical bruising, optimizationAbstract
Traditional harvesting methods of apricot result in significant harvesting and post-harvest losses. This study aimed at designing a mechanical apricot harvesting net with limb shakers to reduce the losses and enhance harvesting efficiency in the Ladakh region of India. The physical characteristics of apricot in terms of sphericity, limb displacement, fruit detachment force and apparent stiffness were measured for designing an apricot harvesting net and selection of frequency for harvesting. The technical feasibility of a mechanical apricot harvester was tested for shaking frequency (7, 22 and 33 Hz), limb diameter (<3 cm, 3-6 cm and > 6 cm) and collecting material used (insect shade net, 95% shade net and 75% shade net). The economic assessment was carried out in terms of benefit-cost ratio, breakeven point and payback period. The responses of fruit removal percentage, harvesting efficiency, mechanical bruising percentage and harvesting loss were recorded. The optimization of parameters revealed at 23 Hz shaking frequency and 75% shade net collecting material resulted in 97.16% fruit removal, 11.24% mechanical bruising, 88.77% harvesting efficiency and 52.79g twig losses per 10 kg of fruit removal for each treatment. The cost economics of the mechanical apricot shaker and collecting net revealed an operating cost of Rs. 246.5 per hour, benefit-cost ratio of 1.15:1, breakeven point of 1270.4 quintals and payback period of 2132 hours. The study can be beneficial for reducing drudgery and income augmentation of apricot growers of Ladakh and Kargil region of India.
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