agricultural engineer: origion and destiny

Slide 1: 

The Agricultural Engineer: Origin and Destiny Lead Paper presented at the 2004 Dinner Lecture of Nigerian Institution of Agricultural Engineers, Kaduna Branch held at Women Multipurpose Centre, Kaduna on 18th December, 2004 D. Bashir National Water Resources Institute, Kaduna, Nigeria

Outline of Presentation : 

18/12/2004 D. Bashir: Origin & Destiny of Agricultural Engineer 2 Outline of Presentation Origin of Engineering What is Engineering? Development of Agricultural Engineering Nigerian Scenario What is Agricultural Engineering? Who are Agricultural Engineers? The Challenges to Agricultural Engineers Destiny of Agricultural Engineers The Future

Origin of Engineering : 

18/12/2004 D. Bashir: Origin & Destiny of Agricultural Engineer 3 Origin of Engineering Engineering predates the human race Use of stone tools 1m yrs ago Engineering limited in pre-historic times Few people, so few ideas poor communication between groups, so no sharing of ideas no surplus food to support inventors and designers invention of Agriculture 10,000 yrs ago people began to raise crops and domesticate animals people began to settle in one place and in large groups Some groups started to innovate and invent due to: changes in climate, declining land and/or water resources threats or attack from other groups

First Engineers : 

18/12/2004 D. Bashir: Origin & Destiny of Agricultural Engineer 4 First Engineers Lived in Egypt Imhotep built the Step Pyramid at Saqqarah in 2550 BC Developed agric. technology in the Nile valley supported large populations Thousands of laborers available for tomb and pyramid engineers to utilize

First Engineers… Cont’d : 

18/12/2004 D. Bashir: Origin & Destiny of Agricultural Engineer 5 First Engineers… Cont’d Developed engineering on the basis of empirical methods aided by Arithmetic, geometry and smattering of physical science Romans focused more attention on catapults and other devices for military use Latin word for devices was ingenuim, root word for engineer In Asia, more sophisticated techniques of Construction, hydraulics,metallurgy Imhotep’s successors included Egyptians, Persians, Greeks, Romans

Speciality in Engineering : 

18/12/2004 D. Bashir: Origin & Destiny of Agricultural Engineer 6 Speciality in Engineering First generation were ‘Military Engineers’ Employed by Government Concerned with subjects of weaponry, bridges, fortifications, etc. First specialists called themselves ‘Civil Engineers’ to distance themselves from military activities Civil Engineering emerged in the 18th Century Built structures, designed water supply & san. Syst, railroads, highway networks, planned cities

Speciality in Engineering … : 

18/12/2004 D. Bashir: Origin & Destiny of Agricultural Engineer 7 Speciality in Engineering … Mech. Engr. emerged in England and Scotland due to inventions of James Watt and machinists of Industrial revolution First schools of engineering were founded in mid 18th Century in France By beginning of 19th Century France had established military schools and polytechnics to teach engineering Produced notables like Laplace, Lagrange, Fourier, etc.

What is Engineering? : 

18/12/2004 D. Bashir: Origin & Destiny of Agricultural Engineer 8 What is Engineering? “Systematic application of scientific knowledge to the betterment of the human condition” Definition may be misleading Supports trickle-down theory – engineers are inferior variety of scientists That engineers just use results of science Invention of steam engine – no help from science Theory of thermodynamics developed by steam engineers Engineering- a cumulative human activity One achievement prepares the way for another Engineers among most valuable members of society But seldom recognized by the public Nature of engineering widely misunderstood

Agricultural Engineering : 

18/12/2004 D. Bashir: Origin & Destiny of Agricultural Engineer 9 Agricultural Engineering Level of mechanization of agriculture determines Development of agriculture Development of human society Undeveloped agriculture depends on hand tools Farm activities labor intensive Takes large team of farmers and field hands to cultivate small area 4 farmers feed 10 people Agricultural engineering recognized as a discipline in 1907 With the formation of ASAE Coincided with rapid advancement of mechanization Many labor saving farm machines, irrigation and drainage systems, farm buildings, processes for preserving and converting agricultural produce were developed

Agricultural Engineering … : 

18/12/2004 D. Bashir: Origin & Destiny of Agricultural Engineer 10 Agricultural Engineering … No. of tractors increased dramatically in developed countries In the USA, 600 tractors in 1907 increased to 3,400,000 by 1950 Continuous changes make tractors more powerful, more efficient Agric. machinery allow huge areas to be cultivated by few In USA, 1 farmer can produce enough to feed 97 Americans and 32 others Mechanization increase farm efficiency and productivity Tremendous increase in irrigated agriculture 16m acres under irrigation in 1900, 62m acres by 2000 Mechanized irrigation very efficient and automated Centre-pivot machine capable of irrigating 150-600 acres

Nigerian Scenario : 

18/12/2004 D. Bashir: Origin & Destiny of Agricultural Engineer 11 Nigerian Scenario Many agricultural programs half-heartedly implemented with no success OFN, Green Revolution, NACB, RBDAs, ADPs, Tractor Assembly Plants, THUs, etc. Nigeria lags behind African countries in mechanization Agricultural development not commensurate with potentials 70% of population engaged in subsistent agriculture At end of 20th century, 86% of land under hand tool cultivation From 1920 to 1966, there was consistent effort at mechanization From then on focus shifted from agricultural development Water resources dev. started in 1908 at Jebba bridge Kware irrigation scheme in 1925 2,985 ha irrigated in 1960 increased to 14,783 ha by 1969 70,000 ha irrigated by end of 1980s

Nigerian Scenario … : 

18/12/2004 D. Bashir: Origin & Destiny of Agricultural Engineer 12 Nigerian Scenario … Despite shortcoming, Nigeria has tremendous potential for irrigated agriculture Potential for formal irrigation – 1.4m hectares Potential for informal irrigation – 2 to 3m hectares Large & capital intensive irrigation schemes after 1972/73 drought Performance disappointing At end of 1999/2000 season 35% capacity utilization Increasing emphasis towards small-scale, farmer managed schemes

Nigerian Scenario … : 

18/12/2004 D. Bashir: Origin & Destiny of Agricultural Engineer 13 Nigerian Scenario … Agricultural engineering emerged as a discipline in the 1970s B.Sc. Agricultural Engineering at University of Ife in 1969/70 session NSAE established in 1975 NIAE established in 1995

What is Agricultural Engineering? : 

18/12/2004 D. Bashir: Origin & Destiny of Agricultural Engineer 14 What is Agricultural Engineering? Application of engineering principles to any process associated with producing agriculturally based goods and management of natural resources Concerns itself with development of: Labor saving farm machines Farm buildings Irrigation and drainage systems Processes for preserving and converting agricultural products to useful Food, feed, and fibre products

Who are Agricultural Engineers? : 

18/12/2004 D. Bashir: Origin & Destiny of Agricultural Engineer 15 Who are Agricultural Engineers? Broadly and intensively trained professionals who devise practical and efficient solutions for producing, storing, transporting, processing and packaging agricultural products Specifically they: Solve problems related to systems, processes and machines Develop solutions for alternative use of agric. Products, by-products, wastes and natural resources Ensure protection of people, animals and the environment

Challenges to Agricultural Engineers : 

18/12/2004 D. Bashir: Origin & Destiny of Agricultural Engineer 16 Challenges to Agricultural Engineers Limited natural resources (land and water) Growing Population Growing Economic Activities Increasing Demand for products Increasing degradation Competition for Scarce Resources Need for Conflict Resolution

Destiny of Agricultural Engineers : 

18/12/2004 D. Bashir: Origin & Destiny of Agricultural Engineer 17 Destiny of Agricultural Engineers Agricultural engineering embraces a variety of specialty areas To address new challenges, these areas are: Transformed New ones are developed Some overlap with one or more areas

Slide 18: 

18/12/2004 D. Bashir: Origin & Destiny of Agricultural Engineer 18 AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING Natural Resources Energy Power Systems & Machinery Design Information & Electrical Technologies Food & Bioprocess Safety & Health Structures & Environment Nursery & Greenhouse Technology

Destiny of Agricultural Engineers : 

18/12/2004 D. Bashir: Origin & Destiny of Agricultural Engineer 19 Destiny of Agricultural Engineers Biological Engineering: Environmental protection and remediation Design of medical implants and other devices Natural pest control and treatment of hazardous wastes Natural Resources Management: Determine crop water requirements and design irrigation and drainage systems Develop agricultural hydrology principles Design, build, operate and maintain water control structures and reservoirs Devise and implement effective erosion control measures Study environmental effects of sediments on stream quality

Destiny of Agricultural Engineers : 

18/12/2004 D. Bashir: Origin & Destiny of Agricultural Engineer 20 Destiny of Agricultural Engineers Power Systems and Machinery Design: Design of advance equipment for food processing High precision crop spraying Commodity and waste transport Removing obnoxious weeds from water bodies Continue developing Tractors Tillage equipment Irrigation equipment Harvest equipment

Destiny of Agricultural Engineers : 

18/12/2004 D. Bashir: Origin & Destiny of Agricultural Engineer 21 Destiny of Agricultural Engineers Structures and Environment: Design: Animal housing Storage structures greenhouses Taking into consideration: Ventilation systems Temperature and humidity control Structural strength Devise better practices and systems for Storing, recovering, re-using and transporting waste products

Destiny of Agricultural Engineers : 

18/12/2004 D. Bashir: Origin & Destiny of Agricultural Engineer 22 Destiny of Agricultural Engineers Food and Bioprocess Engineering: Design and develop processes for production of: Biomass fuels Biodegradable packaging materials Pharmaceutical products Develop useful products to treat wastes; municipal Industrial Agricultural Develop efficient processes for Pasteurization Sterilization irradiation

Destiny of Agricultural Engineers : 

18/12/2004 D. Bashir: Origin & Destiny of Agricultural Engineer 23 Destiny of Agricultural Engineers Information and Electrical Technologies: Development and application of: GIS GPS Machine instrumentation and controls Electromagnetics Bio-infomatics Bio-robotics Machine vision Sensors

Destiny of Agricultural Engineers : 

18/12/2004 D. Bashir: Origin & Destiny of Agricultural Engineer 24 Destiny of Agricultural Engineers Forest Engineering: Apply engineering principles to solve natural resource and environment problems in forest production systems: Equipment design and manufacturing Forest access systems design and construction Machine-soil interaction and erosion control Forest operations analysis and improvement Decision modeling Wood product design and manufacturing

Destiny of Agricultural Engineers : 

18/12/2004 D. Bashir: Origin & Destiny of Agricultural Engineer 25 Destiny of Agricultural Engineers Energy: Increasing standard of living and comfort demands sufficient energy to power the machines, devices and systems: Identify and develop viable energy that are renewable and environment friendly including Biomass Biogas Hydropower Solar Wind Develop energy saving strategies to reduce cost and protect the environment

Destiny of Agricultural Engineers : 

18/12/2004 D. Bashir: Origin & Destiny of Agricultural Engineer 26 Destiny of Agricultural Engineers Nursery and Greenhouse Engineering: Design and develop equipment for Transplanting Control systems for temperature, humidity and ventilation Address plant biology issues, such as Hydroponics Tissue culture Seedling propagation methods Extend activities to extraterrestrial level Engineers at NASA are designing greenhouse systems to support a manned expedition to Mars!

Destiny of Agricultural Engineers : 

18/12/2004 D. Bashir: Origin & Destiny of Agricultural Engineer 27 Destiny of Agricultural Engineers Safety and Health: Analyze health and injury data Study use and mis-use of machines and equipment Ensure compliance with standards and regulations Constantly look for ways to improve safety of equipment, materials and agricultural practices Develop effective means of communicating safety and health issues to the public

The Future : 

18/12/2004 D. Bashir: Origin & Destiny of Agricultural Engineer 28 The Future We, Agricultural Engineers, have replaced human and animal drudgery with mechanical, hydraulic, electrical, and chemical technologies for producing, harvesting, storing, processing, distributing our food, feed and fiber supplies.

The Future… : 

18/12/2004 D. Bashir: Origin & Destiny of Agricultural Engineer 29 The Future… As we enter the 21st century, we should endeavor to add precision and ‘intelligence’ to these technologies by combining sensors (including biosensors) with microcomputers, controllers, artificial intelligence and other software, GPS, vision systems, active control of micro-environments for optimized efficiency, sustainability and reliability of our food, feed and fiber economy while assuring the safety and health of workers, the public and the environment.

Slide 30: 

18/12/2004 D. Bashir: Origin & Destiny of Agricultural Engineer 30 THANK YOU!