Design and construction of an on-farm washing machine for mangoes and carrots.

Abstract

The demand for food worldwide is steadily increasing due to the increasing world population. Fruits and vegetables play an important role in providing essential vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber to the diets of populations in the world. And they are sighted to being food alternatives to increase food security in the world, The Ongoing consumer demand for fruits- and vegetables has contributed to an increase in trade volume of fresh produce. The increased trade in fresh produce has promoted the growth. of small farms and the addition of new value added products there creating more rural and urban jobs. Washing of fruits and vegetables is required for direct consumption (packaging) or processing into products like juice extracts, dried fruits and vegetables among others. Many rural small scale farmers in Uganda harvest and take produce to the market unwashed. The unclean produce fetches for these farmers’ fewer incomes as dirty produce is less acceptable to customers and it contains pathogens that brings in health. and hygiene concerns from consumers and responsible law making bodies. Similarly, the washing machines available on the market are expensive and not fit for small scale washing operations, Yet the farmers who try to wash this produce to improve on acceptance and fetch higher incomes, use rudimentary washing methods which encourage losses, mechanical damage to the produce are time consuming and tedious. The main objective of this project is to. design and fabricate an on farm washing. machine for mangoes and carrots and other related produce. This machine consists of the power unit, the washing unit and the frame. Design and selection of the various components was done by analysing forces acting on the components, sizing to appropriate capacity and selection of proper materials to be used to fabricate. the components. The materials of construction were chosen according to their chemical properties, mechanical properties, physical properties, availability and cost. The designed and fabricated components of the washing machine were assembled together to make a prototype. The rate of washing efficiency was determined as the amount of fruits or vegetables the machine can wash clean with in a specific period of time. The cost evaluation of the designed and fabricated washing machine was carried out, 'It had a cost-benefit ratio of 1.93 and therefore was viable and beneficial to small scale and vegetable farmers