Economic Evaluation of Asella Model-III Multi-crop Thresher

Wheat is one of the most popular crops in Arsi zone produced covering major farmlands specially on mid-highlands and parts of highland areas. Its production system is more advanced and supported by both biological and mechanical technologies relative to other crops in this area. But the mechanization of wheat is threatened by topographical inaccessibility in most highland areas of the zone. To solve this problem Asella Agricultural Engineering research center developed and tested its third version multi-crop thresher. Before the wider multiplication and dissemination of the technology, technical, economical and social acceptance and feasibility of the machine has to be studied. Therefore, this research activity was initiatedwith the objectives of evaluating financial, economicaland social feasibility of the machine vis-à-vis traditional and combines harvesting methods in Arsi zone under farmers’ conditions. Accordingly, the newly developed Asella model-III thresher was found to be economical compared to traditional animal trampling method