CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

          In the past, cutting of grasses in the schools, sports track, or field, industries hotels, pubic center, etc was done by cutlass this method of manual cutting is time consuming a s it is human effort that is needed for cutting, there was also inaccuracy in cutting level using the manual cutting system.

          Apart from all these old method of cutting there is also risk of accident.

          The problems of the manual was meant to be overcome with the aid of this project (the construction of a mechanical lawn mower) which is used for cutting of grasses to equal height or level for speedy cutting.

          This project lawn mower, is also the accident free as well, it reduced labour and also reduced number personnel that is needed in a particular operation, it also reduced man power as it an internal combustion engineer that dose the actual cutting while the operator provides the efforts, great portion of land can easily be cut with lawn mower.

          Again to encourage beauty in our environment this project was embarked on to help in keeping our environment clean because most labourers are finding it difficult in handily tool for gasses cutting.  It is also used for cutting sports field, (like foot ball pitch as well as crowns in hotel and business premises so this project reduces human effort and should be encouraged in school, hotel, business area, etc although mowers can be of electric type too, but we decided to fabricate a mechanical type to overcome the problem of electricity and as such this our lawn mower can be used every where even were there is no electricity.

IDENTIFICATION OF NEED

          Early before now, West Africa as a whole, the peasant farmer depends on the hoe and cutlass for practically all farm operation.  There tools vary in shape and size from place to place in the high forest zone of Nigeria the small farmer must clear thick bush every three or four years.  All this job is being done either hoe or cutlass for weeding of farm land.  These farm operation depend entirely on the energy of the farmer using the tools which he has at this disposal.   This inability that facing the farmer, has triggered these project group to research into the lasting solution to the problem.

          Also, with meant development in the country, daily labour in farm operation is highly exorbitant for the farmer to afford but with these project (mechanical lawn mower) this problem of high payment of local labour can lead to reduction importation cost from Germany USA of this machine Nigerian with high profitability to the farmers.