CARDI, Contributor

Left: Solar knapsack sprayer.   Right: Battery pack fitted on a popular model. - Contributed Photos

Case study: Mechanically-operated

backpack sprayer

Farmer: Alvin Murray

Location: Christiana, Manchester

Alvin Murray is an ardent agriculturist who has spent most of his life in this field and continues to chart paths towards furthering the development of the sector. He has been recognised by several notable stakeholders for his many outstanding efforts.

Born in 1955 to a farming family in Cuba district, Christiana, a leading Manchester farming community, Mr. Murray had four brothers and three sisters. They were all introduced to farming basically from birth. This occurred in the context of a vibrant government agricultural extension service whose staff were seen as role models, highly respected by the rural community. An outstanding feature, Mr. Murray recalls, was the provision of material rewards to farmers who demonstrated proper farming techniques.

His early years involved responsibilities given each sibling in caring for livestock and fruit trees, which proceeds accrued to the respective individual. Added to this were his positive experiences on the school farms at the local Zorn Moravian and Christiana Secondary schools, which supplemented the school feeding programmes while reinforcing his devotion to the field. Consequently, the foundation for his interest in and commitment to the field were thereby firmly laid.

Mr. Murray continued his agricultural development at the Jamaica School of Agriculture 1974-76, where he completed the Diploma in Agriculture. His professional career started at the venerable Christiana Potato Growers' Co-operative Association Ltd. (CPGCA) in 1978, after which he went to the Ministry of Agriculture as a crop care officer. He subsequently held positions in coffee and banana farm management and farm input sales. Today, he has come full circle, being general manager of the CPGCA, to which he returned in 2003 and is making notable strides in revitalising this association.

Notable developments there include the establishment of a 0.25 acre drip-irrigated insect-proof growing house with water-harvesting facility; a 0.07 acre insect-proof nursery and experimental plots. Major projects include virus-free sweet potato plant material production from tissue culture, including the establishment of a tissue culture facility on-station. Sweet potato cultivar characterisation and plant nutrition studies are being undertaken in collaboration with CARDI.

In 1985, he modified an established brand of motorised sprayer, solving a fire hazard fault encountered with the model. Consequent on his innovation, the manufacturers modified their construction design in line with Mr. Murray's. In 2001, he automated the treatment of export banana crowns on the packing house line at Eastern Banana Company.

Over the years, Mr. Murray has attended numerous in-service training courses in several countries of three continents. These experiences have had a marked impact on his development and creativity as he has always gravitated towards the new technologies exposed. A hallmark of his personality is his frequent ideas towards improving some aspect of crop production. Coupled with his desire to improve efficiencies in farming, this has led to innovations in the field. He has, in fact, won several awards for his farming efforts as well as his innovative prowess. These include:

Coffee Industry Board General Manager's Award for sprayer modification, 1985

Parish champion farmer, Westmoreland 1995 and 1997.

Jamaica Agricultural Society National Award for Most Dedicated & Innovative Farmer, 1998

SRC Award for best invention - 1998

Importance of the initiative

This innovation allows the farmer to apply pesticides with much reduced effort and improved coverage of the target, increasing application efficiency. It also facilitates utilisation of a wide range of discarded, otherwise useless sprayers or their component parts. Renewable energy is one source of power used in the innovation and it is very easy to use.

Technical Description

Categorisation, purpose and impact

This technology is categorised as equipment modification and reduces required operator effort. This facilitates improved crop protection and financial returns to the operation.

Technical details

The innovation utilises a pump to pressurise spray liquid from a tank through a delivery lance at relatively constant pressure (28-35 psi). His earlier model used a bicycle pump, subsequently replaced by a 1.8 fluid ounces diaphragm-type water pump. The latter delivers 1.1 to 3.5 gallons per minute at 35 psi and is able to handle up to a half-inch diameter head of 95 inches, without priming the line. It costs less than US$46.

The pump is easily attached to any existing sprayer. An intake tube pulls the spray mix in and pumps it out. Sprayer tank, lance, shoulder straps and frame from any existing sprayer model can be adapted to the innovation. An original design four-inch diameter PVC pipe tank was used in the 1998 model. Power is supplied by either of two sources:

1. A 12 volt, 7 amperes DC battery giving 14 to 20 hours on full charge.

2. A slow-charge solar panel which will provide constant operation even in the absence of direct sunlight. The unit (17 x 10 x 0.75 inches), weighs 1.7 lb and costs approximately US$92.

The battery, pump and a recharging circuit have been housed in a utility pack which can be attached to any tank unit, giving a powered, high volume knapsack sprayer. The unit (1.5 x 1.2 x 0.4 inches) weighs about 10 lb.

Operation and maintenance

A switch turns the pump on and off with a simple flick. Minimal maintenance is required, including cleaning the diaphragm and solar panel.

Assessment

Costs and benefits

The solar panel is somewhat costly and not readily accessible to Jamaicans at this time. It is expected that as the fossil fuel crisis continues or escalates further, access to such types of equipment will be increased drastically. The government policy of duty-free import status for such items will assist in this respect. With bulk purchasing, prices listed for pumps and batteries will be much reduced, making the units more affordable.

The improved pesticide application coverage allowed by the technology will significantly enhance pesticide crop protection potential. The possibilities in increased yield and earnings as well as reduced drudgery should provide benefits to the farmer.

Adoption

A few farmers around Mr. Murray's farm currently benefit from the use of the equipment. Greater access to it would undoubtedly increase the level of adoption.

Research needs/possible improvements

The solar panel is hung on the sprayer, somewhat weighty and not oriented to maximise exposure to sunlight. Use of a smaller, more powerful panel fitted firmly and at a more appropriate angle should enhance the technology.

Similarly, the utility pack, currently housed in a wooden frame, could be better packaged using lighter material, for example, plastic. This would enhance the attractiveness and reduce overall weight.

Concluding Comments

This innovation presents a highly desirable addition to the pesticide application equipment arsenal. A major constraint to its refinement and commercialisation is a lack of affordable capital and time for Mr. Murray to devote to its pursuit. It, however, illustrates the creative talents of the innovator and possibilities for further introductions. His close linkages with agricultural and scientific entities involved in research and development, extension and regulation provide an opportunity to merge his potential into a national collaborative agriculture, science and technology innovation system. Along with other similarly-talented persons, an initiative in the discipline would have a notable starting point which could generate further interest and participation islandwide.

A key lesson to be learnt from this case study is the importance of formative years in the encouragement and nurturing of creative talent. A systematic and formal inclusion into the family life education and school curricula should unleash a tremendous wealth of such capabilities which would redound to the national good.

Alvin Murray was a participant in a study to identify innovative Jamaican farmers and their innovations which was coordinated by the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute with funds from the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation.

For further information on this subject please contact CARDI at 927-1231/0652 or Email cardi2@cwjamaica.com. To comment on this article contact MIAS at 970-2021 or email: mias@uwimona.edu.jm.

Left: The pvc tank opening.   Right: Sweet potato field.