2024, Vol. 7, Issue 7, Part C

author(s)
NP Delvadiya, Dr. RK Kathiria and Dr. TD Mehta

abstract
Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) stands as a significant pulse crop on a global scale, crucial for its contribution of protein and essential nutrients to human diets. The traditional approach to harvesting chickpeas relies heavily on manual labor, a process known for its labor-intensive nature and prolonged duration. However, recent strides in agricultural technology have spurred the development of mechanical harvesting systems tailored specifically for chickpea cultivation. This paper aims to offer an overview of these mechanical harvesting techniques, contrasting them with the traditional manual methods. It will elucidate their advantages in terms of efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability. The study compared the operational cost and labor requirements of a newly developed harvester with manual harvesting methods. It found that using the developed harvester resulted in a significant cost savings of ₹598.00 per hectare, which translates to a reduction of 39.34% in harvesting expenses. Additionally, the labor needed for the developed harvester was only 3.57 man-hours per hectare, a substantial decrease from the 32 man-hours required for manual harvesting, representing an 88.84% reduction in harvesting time per hectare.