Potato Harvester for Smallholder Producers

The post harvest loss of potato in Ethiopia is more than 25% which includes harvesting loss. To minimize the harvesting loss, providing appropriate equipment (technology) is essential. As a result, a study was carried out to develop and select suitable potato digger for small holder potato producers. Comparisons were conducted on three types of potato diggers; traditional plow, AIRIC potato (ground nut) digger and third newly developed potato digger (BD digger). Bio physical and socio economic data were taken using a structured data sheet. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and non parametric statistical tests. The BD digger gave the highest average exposing efficiency (92.40%) and lowest tuber damage (0.81%). The average digging loss for BD digger, with 0.25 ha/hr working capacity, was the lowest (7.61%). The Kruskal Wallis analysis revealed highest positive rank sum (107) for the digger. Overall, farmers’ ranked BD digger as best performing. The financial analysis indicated that BD digger has a net benefit advantage of ETB 522 in one harvesting season from a quarter hectare of land. Thus, it is important to promote the technology as a means of post harvest loss reduction.