Vol. 12, Special Issue 10 (2023)

Author(s):
Madhuri Arya, Chetandeep Prasanth, Kanshouwa Modunshim Maring and Arikonda Priyanka

Abstract:
Chickpea stands out as one of the leading pulse crop extensively cultivated in India followed by Australia, Canada and Turkey. Farmers are increasingly inclined towards transitioning to mechanical harvesting due to its potential to save time, cut in costs that can boost its overall production efficiency. Traditionally, chickpea harvesting in India has been a manual process, primarily because the available chickpea cultivars were not suitable for mechanical harvesting. In contrast, developed nations like the USA, Canada and Australia have successfully implemented mechanical harvesting for chickpea crops by exclusively cultivating varieties compatible with such equipment, ensuring heightened efficiency and cost-effectiveness. Escalating labour costs in India have rendered manual harvesting financially burdensome. Consequently, many farmers are now embracing mechanical harvesting methods, which offer the promise of reduced cultivation and production expenses. The pivotal role of cultivating chickpea varieties well-suited for mechanical harvesting is anticipated to play a crucial role in curbing overall chickpea production costs in India. In summary, the transition from manual to mechanical chickpea harvesting in India is driven by the pursuit of enhancing agricultural efficiency, cutting cultivation costs and to cope up with labour crisis due to high cropping intensity during rabi season. The development and adoption of suitable cultivars for mechanical harvesting have the potential to significantly benefit Indian chickpea farmers by amplifying productivity and minimizing labour-related expenses.