Modelling the Technical Efficiency of gum Arabic Harvester in the Gum belt of Sudan

Abstract: The research was conducted in North and West Kordofan States to model and assess efficiency of gum arabic harvester. Field measurement at Nawa site was conducted where gum from 120 hashab trees were harvested by the harvester and 40 hashab trees were harvested by hand. Tree growth attributes were measured. Stop watch was used to control picking time. Gum fall-in and gum fall-out of the harvester was counted and weighted. Microsoft Excel. Mathematical models were experienced where variables of performance and efficiency were tested. The results showed that harvester theoretical material capacity was higher than hand theoretical capacity by107 gum nodule/h, harvester effective material capacity was also higher than hand effective material capacity by 96 nodules/h, collection efficiency of harvester was higher than that of hand by 1.6 % and time efficiency of harvester was higher than that of hand by 3.3 %. The results showed highly significant correlation (P≤0.01) between nodules fall in harvester and picking time and also between number of branches and picking time. The research concluded that gum arabic harvester is efficient in terms of time, speed, safety and gum quality according to 72.7% of users. The study recommended use of the harvester instead of harmful hand collection method. It also recommended further research focusing on invention and intermediate technology for harvesting and postharvest of gum Arabic production.

Keywords: gum production, nodules, harvesting, tapping, Kordofan, Sudan.

Title: Modelling the Technical Efficiency of gum Arabic Harvester in the Gum belt of Sudan

Author: Muneer Elyas Siddig Eltahir, Suhad Ismail Eltahir, Moayad Balal Zaid, Zeinab Mohammed Hamad, Osman Elsaid Adlan, Hatim Mohamed Ahmed Elamin, Ahmed Ismail Ahmed Safi, Awadelkareem Suliman Osman Khalifa, Abdalaziz Elsaid Hamad, Mohammed Osman Hassan, Heba Abdalla Noureldeen, Mohammed Eltom Elhaja

International Journal of Novel Research in Civil Structural and Earth Sciences

ISSN 2394-7357

Vol. 10, Issue 2, May 2023 - August 2023

Page No: 38-48

Novelty Journals

Website: www.noveltyjournals.com

Published Date: 03-August-2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8210892

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