Agricultural Engineering

Agricultural Implements Research Center (AIRIC), now called Agricultural Engineering Research Department, was one of the national commodity programs under EIAR established to carry out development and testing of farm tools and equipment appropriate for farmers’ agricultural condition Ethiopia. The research department has two functional national research programs, i.e., Farm Power and Field Machinery research program and Post-harvest and Processing Engineering research program. The center entrusted with testing and evaluation of imported and local agricultural implements. A number of implements collected from the country and produced by the program were tested and series of test reports were produced from 1986 till the early 1990s following the standards. Read More

Successful prototypes were tested at different locations in collaboration with the research extension department and the Ministry of Agriculture. Private manufacturers have multiplied equipment with satisfactory test results in larger quantity for popularization. Trainings provided to manufacturers, farmers, development agents and agricultural extension workers at various levels and times. The Agricultural Engineering Research department has documented the research results in the form of progress reports, test reports, technical manuals, newsletter articles, invited papers published in proceedings and journals. Strengthening the program in terms of trained staff, facility and on collaborative works on research and development with strong institutes and organizations are the future plans of the program. Read More

(a) and (b) 2BG-6A Seeder metering unit replaced by imported small seed metering unit (c) Modified 2BFG-6A seeder for teff crop in action at Machakel, Amhara region. Read More

a) Analog indicator of drawbar force (left) and calibration of the load cell (right) before conducting testing b) Drawbar force measurement set-ups using dynamometer (left), Engine RPM measurement using digital non-contacting type tachometer( middle) and the load cell reading (right) on a concrete test track at Melkassa Agricultural Research Center (MARC) c) Soil shear and con-penetrometer reading (left), Ploughing width measurement (middle) and depth of tillage measurement (right) at Melkassa Agricultural Research Center (MARC) d) Slip measurement on concrete test track (left), DongFeng (DF-15) Chinese 2WT during testing (middle) and Vari brand Czech Republic made 2WT during testing at Melkassa Agricultural Research Center. Read More

The modified 2BG-6A Rotary tillage seed drill does quite a good teff seed drilling at Melkassa Research Center, September 2017. Read More

Teff grain and biomass yield using the modified 2WT seeder in 2017 at Machakel District, Amhara Region Read More