Performance Evaluation of a Motorised Groundnut Sheller for Farmers in Katsina State

This study evaluates the performance of a motorised groundnut sheller designed for smallholder groundnut farmers in Katsina State, North West Nigeria. Groundnut shelling is a labour-intensive, time-consuming post-harvest operation traditionally performed by hand in northern Nigerian farming communities, particularly by women and children. Hand shelling limits processing throughput, causes skin and nail injuries, and constrains the commercial viability of groundnut marketing. This study assembles and tests a locally fabricated motorised groundnut sheller using a 1.5 kilowatt single-phase electric motor, perforated cylindrical drum, and adjustable concave gap configuration. Performance tests are conducted using three groundnut varieties common in Katsina State, namely Samnut 24, Samnut 26, and Valencia, at moisture content levels of 8, 10, and 12 percent. Performance parameters measured include shelling efficiency, cleaning efficiency, percentage seed damage, and throughput capacity. Findings show that optimal performance is achieved at 10 percent moisture content, with shelling efficiency of 94.6 percent, seed damage of 4.2 percent, and throughput of 120 kilograms per hour. The machine reduces shelling time by 87 percent compared to hand shelling under equivalent conditions. The study concludes that the motorised groundnut sheller significantly improves processing efficiency for Katsina State groundnut farmers. It recommends power-independent design modifications using a petrol engine alternative to accommodate communities lacking reliable electricity supply.

Keywords: groundnut sheller, performance evaluation, Katsina State, post-harvest, mechanisation.