Assessing the Viability of a Fully Mechanised Har- Vesting Operation for a Large Sugarcane Estate

Abstract A desk top analysis was conducted to assess the feasibility and economics of introducing a fully mechanised combine harvesting system on several farms of a miller cum planter estate located in the KwaZulu Natal Midlands of South Africa. Machinery and equipment costing exercises based on row length, haul-out distance and harvester forward speeds were investigated. The outcome of the study indicated that the success and economic viability of introducing a fully mechanised combine harvesting system is largely dependant on the harvester’s output, reliability and the overall management of the proposed system. The study furthermore showed that if the contractor is afforded a reasonable management fee and profit margin the cost of the fully mechanised harvesting system was comparable to that of the existing manual harvesting system currently employed on the estates.