Owning and operating cost evaluation of backpack granular fertiliser dispenser
(Penilaian kos pemilikan dan operasi penabur baja butir bergalas)
Khairul Fithri Abdul Rashid*, Mohd Fazly Mail** and Norzalila Kasron***
Keywords: plant nursery, granular fertiliser, owning and operating cost
Abstract
Plant nursery is the place where plants are propagated and grown to a desired size before being transferred to farm. The backpack granular fertiliser dispenser is developed by MARDI to tackle issue from plant nursery industry related to ergonomic practices of dispensing granular fertiliser at plant root zone area. This traditional practice of dispensing fertiliser is found tedious, inaccurate and exposing the operator to the high risk of harmful chemical contamination. The effect of the tool in general economic aspect was studied. Parameters used were the cost for manufacturing, owning and operating of the tool. From the analysis, it was found that the backpack granular fertiliser dispenser is an innovation that fulfils the plant nursery industry in terms of its technical and economical requirement. The introduction of backpack granular fertiliser dispenser was welcomed by the industry where the functionality of this tool is proven.
Abstrak
Tapak semaian adalah tempat tumbuh-tumbuhan dibiakkan dan berkembang kepada saiz yang dikehendaki sebelum dipindahkan ke ladang. MARDI telah membangunkan alat penabur baja butir bergalas bagi mengatasi isu amalan pembajaan kawasan zon akar di tapak semaian yang kurang ergonomik. Amalan sedia ada dilihat lebih meletihkan di samping baja yang ditabur kurang tepat dan operator mudah terdedah kepada pencemaran kimia. Kertas kerja ini ialah untuk mengkaji kesan alat dalam aspek ekonomi. Parameter yang digunakan ialah kos untuk pembuatan, pemilikan dan operasi alat. Kajian mendapati bahawa alat penabur baja butir bergalas ini merupakan suatu inovasi yang berjaya memenuhi keperluan industri dari segi teknikal serta ekonomi. Peralatan yang diperkenalkan telah mendapat sambutan baik dalam kalangan industri kerana konsep yang diketengahkan adalah praktikal.