Investigation on performance and cost of combine harvester: a case study at Kg Piasau paddy field, Kota Belud, Sabah / Juem Panambong

The implementation of machinery in agriculture sector in our country had brought positive impacts to the agriculture operation. Other than increasing the productivity and efficiency to the operations, it also cuts the cost of labours. This study was conducted with aims to study and evaluate the performance, fixed cost, operating cost and the efficiency of the combine harvester, based on the time of life of the machine. The study was conducted in Kg Piasau paddy field, Kota Belud, Sabah. Primary data was collected on the field, based on the motion study conducted to obtain the average of both time and speed of the combine harvester in conducting the operation. The model of a combine harvester that was evaluated in the motion study is New Holland Clayson 1545. This machine harvester’s performance, TFC, EFC and FE were determined based on the average. The TFC, EFC and FE were determined to be 2.15 ha/hr, 1.21 ha/hr and 56.28% respectively. The average speed during operating on site was studied to be 5.10 km/hr. For the secondary data, it was obtained to identify the field of operation and the cost for five years of use of the paddy combine harvester. The calculation was then made using formulas, and the fixed and operating cost spent in those five years was interpreted. The depreciation had known to decline up to 86.94% in five years. The assumption on cost per year of the shelter, insurance and transportation was RM6000. As for the highest fixed and operating cost, it was recorded in 2014 with the amount of RM20.66/ha and in 2018 with an amount of RM53.92/ha respectively. In this study, the performance and efficiency of the combine harvester might be subjective to few factors such as the working area condition, the machine condition, the worker’s skill and the paddy field owner’s obligation. The outcome information of this study can be useful to the owner to manage cost in the future.