• The work rate of PADITRAK in rice harvesting depends on the soil bearing capacity, the rice yield and the distance to unloading stations.
• The total cost of the modified harvester attachment was RM20,000
• The total cost of PADITRAK was RM 46,000
• The costs of rice harvesting of selected combines are included in the TABLE below for comparison.
  

Table 2. Evaluation of economic viability of PADITRAK-combine

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                         	     PADITRAK        Jialiang      Laverda
				    +Harvester
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Purchase price (RM)     	    66 000.00   150 000.00   130 000.00

Fuel consumption (L/h)                   6.60         11.25         7.50
Labour Cost (RM/h)                      52.80         61.20        43.20
Operating cost (RM/h)                   94.65        178.03       143.16

Cutting width (m)                        2.2           4.25         3.0
Speed of operation (kph)                 4             4            4
Field efficiency (%)                    60            60           60
Field capacity (ha/h)                    0.528         1.02         0.72
Operating cost (RM/ha)                 179.25        174.54       198.83

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ASSUMPTIONS

The following assumptions were made in the economic analysis:
• The annual use of PADITRAK for harvesting is 500 hours.
• The annual use of PADITRAK for soft rotavation is 500 hours.
• Interest is 10%.
• Salvage value is 10%.
• Economic life of PADITRAK is 10 years, that of the rotavator is 8 years and that of the harvester implement is 6 years.
• Straight line depreciation
• Oil cost is 15% of fuel cost
• Labour cost is a percentage of the contract charge: 25% for tillage work, 50% for harvesting with PADITRAK-combine and 30% with the other combines