Keeping Organic Matter in the Field through Improved Mechanization.

Organic matter depletion in crop fields in Africa is a serious problem and is often caused by removal of plants or plant residue for collective threshing, use as animal fodder or burning. An advantage of mechanized harvest through a motorized combine is that residue is left in the field in the wake of the machine. Because combines are not generally affordable or accessible for smallholder farmers, a small thresher that can be moved around in a field is the only viable replacement for mechanized harvesting. Coupled with good education and demonstration, mechanization can lead to lower crop residue loss in smallholder fields. A useful design coupled with local fabrication training helps make thresher use more sustainable.