Fabrication and Performance Testing of a Maize Sheller for Rural Farmers in Oyo State

This study involves the fabrication and performance testing of a pedal-powered maize sheller designed for rural farmers in Oyo State, South West Nigeria. Maize shelling, the separation of grain from the cob, is an essential post-harvest operation that is labour-intensive and time-consuming when performed manually. Hand shelling maize typically achieves outputs of only 15 to 20 kilograms per hour, representing a significant productivity bottleneck for rural farmers who must process large quantities within short post-harvest windows. This study fabricates a pedal-powered maize sheller using mild steel frame, rubber-lined shelling drum, and chain drive mechanism, designed for assembly using standard workshop tools. Performance evaluation tests are conducted using three maize varieties common in Oyo State, specifically Oba Super 2, SAMMAZ 15, and TZPB, at moisture content levels of 13, 16, and 19 percent. Performance parameters include shelling efficiency, grain damage percentage, throughput capacity, and operator energy expenditure. Findings reveal that the pedal-powered sheller achieves maximum shelling efficiency of 93.8 percent at 16 percent moisture content, with a throughput of 68 kilograms per hour per operator. Grain damage is 5.1 percent at optimal moisture content. Operator energy expenditure averages 180 watts, within sustainable human power limits. The study concludes that the pedal-powered maize sheller offers a practical, affordable post-harvest mechanisation solution for rural Oyo State farmers. It recommends introduction through community machinery service providers.

Keywords: maize sheller, pedal-powered, post-harvest, Oyo State, rural mechanisation.