Utilization of optimization model for machinery planning in multi-crop farms in wad salman project-sudan

Abstract

Farm machinery management plays an important role in agricultural production because machinery contribute a major capital input cost in most agricultural business. Hence, improvement of farming system depends on development of a planning strategy that considers the determination of optimum machinery sets and power units in order to reduce farm expenses, manage agricultural machines efficiently, schedule field operations effectively and timely and decrease crop losses.To achieve these objectives a machinery management optimization model was utilized to establish machinery service centre for executing mechanized cultural operations for multi-crop farms in Wad Salman Project-Sinnar State-Sudan. Machinery operating programs and their time scheduling in the form of bar chart was generated by application of the model. The schedule of tractors demand and time for running maintenance activities were specified and optimized for the four crop rotation used in Wad Salman Project for seasons 1999/2000 to 2004/2005. Utilization of the model resulted in total direct costs saving of 49 % for the four course rotation. The model succeeded in reducing labor demand by 42%.Tractors distribution efficiency was improved slightly by 2% where the optimization model affected positively the power and machine utilization by 70% and 60%, respectively.