Evaluation and Development of Ergonomically Designed Tilling Machine for Mountain Farming
摘要
Mountainous agriculture has a low level of mechanization because of the difficult terrain and the lack of equipment made specifically for mountain farming. Traditional plows are used for soil tilling, a labor-intensive operation. The aim of the study was to develop a user-friendly, ergonomically designed soil-tilling machine to replace traditional techniques and improve farmers’ safety and productivity. The study was conducted among 39 males from three different villages, and a questionnaire was performed along with a market study. Local farmers tested a tiller prototype in the field while being observed, and their feedback was noted. An expert evaluated both concepts in the card-sorting exercise and favored one. Thorough consideration of ergonomic and anthropometric principles was applied to the selected design. The final version features an engine and a single wheel on the front chisel plow. The equipment is manageable for tilling and may be readily moved through fields with terraces. Finally, the study concluded that tillers with ergonomic designs would be more interactive and user-friendly for mountain agriculture, boosting both production and user health and safety.