Machine replaces cane growers

With sugarcane planting machine researched and manufactured by HCM City University of Agriculture and Forestry, labor productivity increased by at least 6 times.

Sugarcane planting is a heavy work, occupying the most labor in the sugarcane cultivation process and decides a lot about productivity. Labor day price is 1.5 - 2 times higher than normal days. Concerned about lowering production costs, increasing profits for farmers, Dr. Nguyen Nhu Nam of the Faculty of Technology and Engineering, Ho Chi Minh City Agriculture and Forestry University researched a versatile sugarcane growing machine.

With sugarcane growing machine, labor productivity increases at least 6 times.

Previously, to plant 1 ha of sugarcane, it takes 30-35 workers with a wage of about VND 2.4 million. Now, thanks to the sugarcane planting machine, only three workers need to pay for labor and fuel about VND 400,000.

Perform all stages of cultivation

In November 2008, Mr. Nam began his research. After nearly three months with his partner, he launched a versatile sugar cane growing machine. This machine can handle the following tasks: root digging, plowing, tillering, flattening, collecting grass, stumps, cutting cuttings, fertilizing, removing cuttings, filling soil, compaction . work of plowing and flat harrows from 1.35 to 2.25 m; maximum depth of 60 cm, with dark deep tillers, 30cm, productivity of 0.7 - 1 ha per hour.

The sugarcane planting department has two rows at the same time, the depth of the groove is adjusted to each area. Fertilizing microorganisms, inorganic fertilizers, accurately dividing into the trench through the deflector and adjusting the amount of fertilizer passing through the valve. The orientation of planting cuttings, for cuttings is in the right position, evenly. After slitting, remove the manure, remove the rear lever to cover the soil and compact the parts. The row distance can be double (40cm), single row can adjust the distance from 80 - 160cm.

Actual productivity of planting is about 0.4 - 0.6ha / hour, theoretical productivity is up to nearly 1ha / hour. The machine is attached to the tractor MTZ50, MTZ80, MTZ892. The working mechanism of the machine only needs three people: one to drive the machine and two to put the sugar cane down on the knife tightly.

Suitable for Vietnamese sugarcane

Mr. Nam talked about the difficulties he encountered: 'The most difficult part of the machine is the design of the sugarcane chopping block. How to have a standard length of 30 cm, the sugarcane cuttings are not damaged by the operation of the knife. And finally, the smooth coordination of the stages'.

In addition, materials for machine manufacture can be fully active in the country, without using imported goods. According to Mr. Nam, sugarcane planting machines currently do not lack imported goods, but these machines are very expensive, only one line can be grown, not suitable to the actual conditions in Vietnam.

Currently, the machine has a weight of 1,000 kg and costs about 90 million dong, the price is only about 40% of that of foreign products of the same type. According to Dr. Nam, if mass production costs are reduced from 20-30% and farmers can easily equip.

Currently, the first multipurpose sugarcane planters are transferred to sugarcane farmers in Quang Ngai. On the occasion of April 30, Mr. Nam still had to continue to stick to the workshop to bring the machine to other sugarcane areas ordered.