Fabrication and Testing of a Portable Cassava Peeling Machine for Rural Processing Units in Benue State

Cassava peeling is one of the most time-consuming and physically demanding steps in the processing value chain across the North Central agricultural belt of Nigeria, contributing to drudgery among women processors and limiting throughput in rural enterprises. This project documents the design, fabrication, and performance evaluation of a portable cassava peeling machine intended for small-scale processing units in Benue State. The machine employs an abrasive drum mechanism in which cassava tubers are fed into a rotating cylindrical chamber lined with abrasive material, causing simultaneous peeling through friction. The drum drive is powered by a single-phase electric motor rated at 1.5 kilowatts, with provision for petrol engine adaptation in areas without grid electricity. Performance tests were conducted using three cassava varieties commonly grown in Makurdi and Gboko local government areas, and peeling efficiency, tuber damage rate, and machine throughput were recorded. The machine achieved a mean peeling efficiency of 80 percent and a throughput of 220 kilograms per hour for medium-sized tubers, with a tuber damage rate below 6 percent. The portable design, with a total weight of 48 kilograms, allows transportation between farms and processing centres. Total fabrication cost was 52,000 naira. The study supports the use of mechanised peeling in improving cassava processing efficiency in smallholder agri-business contexts. Keywords: cassava peeling machine, abrasive drum, rural processing, Benue State, agricultural mechanisation.