Design, fabrication and assessment of direct seeder in Benin Republic

Abstract

The need for efficient agricultural equipment that is compatible with the characteristics of farms remains a crucial issue in Africa. The aim of the work was to design, fabricate and test a seeder for direct seeding. The method used consisted in collecting the farmers’ needs and the weakness of some direct seeders in literature review. Then, the design of the planter components was carried out based on the characteristics of soil types and seeds in Benin Republic. Finally, a  technical drawing of the seeder was made on the computer. The seeder was manufactured in a mechanical workshop and tested in the field. This equipment is capable of sowing on unplowed soil, with an average capacity of 0.90 ha/h for two rows, a working speed of 5.76 km/h and a seed breaking rate of 1.28%. This seeder sows an average of two seeds per hole with an average distance of 25 cm between seeds and 80 cm between rows for sowing depth around 3 cm. The optimization of this direct seeder will allow to support the farmers for the success and the extension of the direct sowing under vegetal cover in Benin Republic.