Analysis On Optimal Sugar Cane Harvesting System In Jatitujuh SCP Majalengka

Abstract

Sugar cane harvesting always draws attention on sugar cane plantation management since it is considered as one of the factors affecting sugar cane production as well as its profitability. This paper discusses about analysis of optimal sugar cane harvesting system for Jatitujuh Sugar Cane Plantation (SCP. It covers analysis on three harvesting systems that are implemented in the plantation, i.e. manual harvesting system, semi-mechanical harvesting system and mechanical harvesting system, each related with several parameters, i.e. harvesting cost, loss caused by uncollected sugar cane from the field and trans taken to the factory, and the impact of harvesting operation and sugar cane transportation on physical soil properties. Final decision analysis to determine the optimal sugar cane harvesting system was made by employing Analytical Hierarchy Process which involves four actors as the decision makers, i.e. Chief of Harvesting and Transportation Section, Chief of Mechanization Section, Chief of Manufacturing Section, and Chief of Research and Development Section. From the analysis it was found that manual harvesting system was considered as the priority system, followed by semi-mechanical harvesting system and mechanical harvesting system with assigned weight of 0.581, 0.283, and 0.137, respectively. From this result it can be concluded that manual harvesting system is the optimal harvesting system for Jatitujuh SCP. Keywords: harvesting system, sugar cane, analytic hierarchy process