Performance and test evaluation of a sisal leaf loader in mechanizing inter-row leaf transportation in the sisal industry: a case study of Hale Sisal Estate

The problem of labor shortage and increased sisal fiber production costs in the conventional sisal harvesting system will have to be solved if the Tanzanian sisal industry is to compete in the world sisal fiber production. The main objective of this study was to conduct motion and time study of the Leaf Loader to evaluate its field capacity, performance and costs of owning and operating in the Tanzanian sisal industry in order to provide flexibility of future expansion of sisal fiber production by alleviating the labor shortage problem and reducing the sisal fiber production cost of the existing conventional sisal harvesting system. Field test results of the Leaf Loader at Hale Estate show that introduction of the Leaf Loader in the sisal industry will lead to a maximum cost saving of approximately US $ 14.2 per ton of sisal fiber as discussed in Chapter 5. This cost saving per ton of sisal fiber can be increased considerably by improving operator's efficiency during field operation. The Leaf Loader itself is very efficient and is currently used in the South African sisal fields for inter-row leaf transportation. The field spacing of the Tanzanian sisal fields conforms to the Leaf Loader specifications, however this spacing cannot accommodate movement of the Tractor Trailer when negotiating turns at the ends of the rows. A study needs to be conducted to determine field spacing sufficient to accommodate movement of the Tractor-Trailer in the field. Details of analysis of this study are shown in chapter five. Chapter six gives conclusions and recommendations with regard to adapting the Leaf Loader in mechanizing inter-row leaf transportation in the Tanzanian sisal industry