A SEED DRILL FOR SHIFTING CULTIVATION FARMING SYSTEM. Seed dropping mechanism determines the rate and amount of seeds that go into a plot of land, which has a bearing on the yield that will be expected.

INTENSIVE CULTIVATION AND SHIFTING CULTIVATION FARMING SYSTEMS. Intensive cultivation and shifting cultivation are the two major farming systems that are practised in various styles worldwide. In the Intensive Cultivation System: 1.The plot of land is cleared and all stumps and roots removed. 2.The land is ploughed deep and soft harrowed. 3.The same plot is cultivated year after year many times.

INTENSIVE CULTIVATION IN THE WET TROPICAL RAIN FOREST. In the Far Eastern countries such as China, India, Malaysia, etc. which are in the wet tropical rain forest area, they practice intensive cultivation in three ways. They are: 1.Tree Crop Farm. In this system, the same plot of land is kept tree crop plantation for many years. This protects the soil from severe erosion and/or denudation 2.Bond Building. The land is levelled out and bonds built to slow down the speed of the run-off rain to reduce erosion. 3.Terracing. This is very much like bonding, which is practiced in the mountain areas. Bonding and terracing call for heavy and complex machinery and euipment. They are therefore capital intensive.

SHIFTING CULTIVATION. In the Shifting Cultivation Farming System, a plot of land is cultivated for few years and then left under fallow bush for many years. This helps the soil to recuperate. This system has many disadvantages. Some of them are: a.Severe erosion takes place during even the few years of cultivation. b.With the growing population, the fallow period is getting shorter and shorter. c.With the growing number of short duration crops, the cultivation period of the same plot of land is getting to four years or more. d.This farming system cannot be mechanised easily. e.It limits the area of a plot that farmers can cultivate, therefore small farms. f.It is a dangerous bypass to escape capital input. Shifting Cultivation is the farming system that most farmers practice in the Wet Tropical Countries of Africa. If Agricultural Engineers working in Africa are to help these farmers to get out of this dilemma, we should first of all meet them where they are. Then we shall carefully and comprehensively lead them away from this dangerous ground.

AVAILABLE SEED DROPPING MECHANISMS There are many seed dropping machines on the market and on the farms. Most of such seed drills are designed for use on farms that have no stump, deep ploughed and fine texture soil. Such seed drills cannot work effectively in shifting cultivation farming system. The Jab Planter, which is the next option, demands a lot of labour and time input.

VISION. Farmers in the Wet Tropical Countries of Africa mechanise their farming system, improve their cultivation system and achieve higher yield per area, labour and investment.

OBJECTIVE. “Mu Lii Valamei Farms” produces and operates a simple, effective and safe seed dropping mechanism for use in the Shifting Cultivation Farming System in Sierra Leone.

DESIGNING A SEED DRILL. This equipment is yet on the Drawing Board. Furrow Opening Mechanism Seed Box Seed Meter Furrow Closing Mechanism Soil Level.

REV. MUSA J JAMBAWAI Mu Lii Valamei Farms Kpetema Malegohun