| Abstract |
The banana industry is very important in Malaysia as she exports bananas
to Europe and Japan. Large banana plantations are being developed and
exports are rising which shows that many manual workers are needed to
man the plantations. To reduce manual workers, a Banana Sucker Removal
Device, a tool which can sever suckers, or the banana new shoots, fast and
easy from the mother plant, was invented. It is attached to a trolley to
transport the suckers to the planting sites to ensure minimal handling.
Rough handling may damage healthy suckers. This device reduces
damage that usually occurs when planters use 'sandak' or chisel-hoe in the
conventional method. Using sandak is not only time consuming and labourious, but can cause backache to the workers as they have to bend
continuously to detach the suckers. The Banana Sucker Removal Device
will also carry the suckers to the planting or selection sites. This device will
improve the banana planting industry since it reduces time, labour and cost
for the planters. |