Umudike Journal of Engineering and Technology

Manual transplanting of paddy rice seedlings exposes small scale rice farmers to musculoskeletal disorders as well as back problems resulting from repetitive bending and awkward postures involved. This research is focused on the design analysis of a simple but durable manually operated machine for on-row transplanting of paddy rice. A simple manual rice transplanter was developed consisting of the following basic components: seedling tray, chassis, picking fork/fingers, wheels assembly, transmission drives, pulling mechanism, and float board. The designed machine is to be operated by a single operator and has a theoretical planting rate of 777 plants in a minute at a mean forward speed of 1.4 m/s. The component analysis was conducted and power requirement for the machine is 41.3 Watt well below the power of average man which is 76 W. The design upon implementation is intended to contribute immensely to mechanization of rice production in Nigeria; as it could make available to small scale rice farmers a simple yet affordable mechanical transplanter replacing manual transplanting, eliminating drudgery, and thereby increasing their production capacity and more revenue.