MAHBUBUR RAHMAN KHAN

Scientists at Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) have successfully manufactured a highly suitable and affordable combine rice harvester.

In the third week of November, BRRI ran the operation of the prototype.

Yesterday, Agriculture Minister Muhammad Abdur Razzaque saw activities of the machine at BRRI office in Gazipur. “This is a remarkable achievement. It’s rice harvesting capacity is comparatively high, suitable for use in small pieces of land of the country,” he said.

The cost of various combine harvesters in South Asian countries, including Myanmar, is Tk 25-30 lakh but this will cost Tk 12-13 lakh. The harvest loss is also low, said the minister, reports UNB.

“If we can produce the machine locally and use it, then there will be a revolution in agricultural mechanisation in Bangladesh,” he said. It will play a unique role in increasing agriculture products and making them more profitable.

“The machine is appropriate for our small pieces of land and soil condition,” said AKM Saiful Islam, principal scientific officer of BRRI. Its engine has about 87 horsepower. And so, the machine can collect paddy in 3-4 bighas of land per hour. Fuel consumption is about 3.5-4 litres per hour. Moreover, harvesting loss is less than one percent.