ON-GOING

• Mechanical cassava harvesting techniques to reduce drudgery and enhance efficiency in commercial cassava production. Prototype mechanical harvester developed, field-tested, demonstrated and deployed in Ghana, Nigeria, Jamaica and South Africa to support large-scale cassava production.
• Development of motorised cassava peelers to support industrial cassava processing along the value chain
• Mechanised minisett yam planter to promote commercial seed yam production to attract the youth and reduce drudgery in agriculture

PAST

• Draught animal technology for increased productivity among small-scale farmers. A durable cast steel ploughshare developed, field tested and ready for mass production. This technology has the potential to be extended to other soil-engaging tillage tools drawn by tractors and other earth moving machinery. Improved yoke designs to promote animal welfare were also tested for eventual promotion among animal traction farmers
• The development of Tek-Groundnut Cracker, a multi-pulse cracker-winnower suitable for shelling groundnuts, castor seed, Jatropha and sunflower. This equipment decreases post-harvest losses, raises net profits for farmers and enhances the efficiency of oil extraction in the oil-bearing crops suitable for human consumption and as biofuels.
• Development of suitable Jab-planters for conservation agricultural crop establishment. Due to aging farming population and increased school enrolment, new and efficient crop production technologies need to be developed for sustainable development to reduce hunger and malnutrition.