Performance Evaluation of Paddle Type and Push up Type Coconut climbing devices

Abstract

Coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) is a dominant tree crop in coastal and plain areas of southern India and is used as food and income source. At present, lack of skilled manpower to climb the coconut tree is a major problem faced by coconut growers across the country. Since 1970s, different coconut climbing devices have been developed (Davis, 1963). A tractor mounted hydraulically operated lifting device suitable for harvesting and other crown operations for medium tall coconut trees (maximum height of 12 m) was developed and evaluated at Dr. B.S. Konkan Krishi Vidhya Peeth, Dapoli (Kolhe, 2010). To reach a height of 10 m it requires 38 s and another 28 s to descend. However, it could work only in plain areas where the slope is less than 20.5 per cent (Kolhe and Jadhav, 2011). Similar device was tried in Saudi Arabia (Sial, 1984) and in Iraq (Shabana and Mohamad, 1993) for harvesting dates. The major problems with these devices are low elevation height (approx. 10 m), traction, maneuverability, plant geometry and difficulty in passing through irrigation channels and other obstructs. Cost is the other major concern.