Development and performance evaluation of a Pedal Operated Seed Cleaner (POS-Cleaner)

Abstract Traditional grain cleaning methods are labor-intensive, time-consuming, and yet very inefficient. The use of available mechanical seed cleaners is widely limited since they expensive to own, operate, maintain. A Pedal Operated Seed Cleaner (PoS-Cleaner) was developed its performance evaluated. Appropriate engineering principles methodologies were used in the sizing construction machine. cleaner consists a bicycle-like pedaling system, hopper, centrifugal fan, three sieves which include two inside interlocking (one sieve fixed other adjustable); whose meshes can be adjusted larger than size unclean seeds by longitudinally translating second achieve appropriate size. This allows trapping impurities seeds. Cleaning rates 576.5 kg/h, 375.8 377.4 kg/h for maize, beans, groundnuts obtained respectively. Maize, had their highest efficiencies 95.09%, 87.61%, 81.67% at inner sizes 13 mm, 16 mm 10 respectively, speed 60 rpm. PoS-Cleaner presents more viable option smallholder farmers rural remote areas with no access national grid, therefore producing high-quality will eventually facilitate agricultural value addition increase individual family incomes Uganda. Article highlights pedal operated multi-seed developed. Achieved 5 times higher compared traditional technologies. Attained separation externalities