Chitedze

The Irrigation, Farm Mechanization and Post-harvesting Processing Technologies Team carries out research on farm machinery, post-harvesting processing technologies and irrigation. Some of the research is aimed at addressing labour shortage problems experienced by farmers at all levels. Work is also done on harvesting and processing technologies.

Areas of research.

(i) evaluating various farm implements including weeders, ploughs, cultivators and planters.

(ii) evaluating agroprocessing equipment, including juice extractors, dehuskers,chippers, oil extractors and threshers.

(iii) developing irrigation technologies for various crops.

Achievements

Recommended technologies
(i) grain dehullers, plant planter from Botswana, multi-purpose toolbars from the Netherlands, hydraulic ram, rice/wheat weeder, solar cooker/heater, cassava peelers and grinders, imported hand hoes, Philippino wooden ploughs, Agrimal hand hoes, Eicher tractor from India, Tinkabi tractor from Swaziland, sprayers, and mobile seed dresser/applicator, solar dryers, fertilizer applicator, rice thresher hand planters, groundnut shellers.

(ii) rates of water and fertilizer application for irrigated crops

(iii) methods of land preperation

(iv) identification of crops suitable for irrigation