For Indian farmers who cultivate a variety of grains on their farm fields in great regularity, harvesting season is very important. Since this is the time when all their hard work will be counted and rewarded. Wondering what are harvesters and how they are so reliant? Let’s help you find out what different types of harvesters you can buy, the benefits of harvesters, the function and uses of harvesters, and the best platform to buy your harvesting machinery from.
The harvesting process, including reaping or cutting, threshing or sifting grains from the chaff, can be time taking and exhausting when done manually. Plus, proper care has to be take while collecting crops as fragile crops can be accidentally ignored and crushed. Also, working long hours in the field has its own problems, as farmers have to work even in bad weather conditions.
Harvesting done with hands is a very time-consuming and tiring task. But it doesn’t have to be any longer!
With the most adaptable harvesting machinery, the harvesting process can become less tiring and more time-saving and productive.
What is a Harvesting Machine? Let’s Start With the Basic…
Harvesting machines or harvesters are mechanical devices or farm implements that help with removing the ripened or matured crops from the farm fields during the harvesting seasons.
Uses of Harvester – How Do they Add to Farming Yield?
Harvester or combine harvester is an innovation to Indian farming that’s key to saving time and cost for Indian farmers. To surpass traditional farming challenges, combine harvesters were introduced that combined the 3 processes of harvesting into a single machine — reaping, threshing, and windrowing.
These multi-crop harvesters or farm equipment help in collecting the best quality grains in a shorter duration without depending much on labour. It is beneficial for small-scale producers to large-scale commercial farmers looking to increase farm output without sacrificing their peace of mind.
A harvester or harvesting machine can help in a lot of ways:
- High Margins on selling crops – Grains that are collected by harvesters are of high quality and thus they can be optimally priced in the market based on quality.
- Less time period to harvest- Harvesters can really help harvest the large farmlands in a short span of time.
- Less labour cost even when harvesting season is at peak – Harvesters don’t require much manual labour as compared to traditional methods; this saves labour costs which can be quite high during the harvesting season.
- No damage to fragile crops – Traditional harvesting wouldn’t realise how fragile some crops can be and would require some careful handling, and in the process, many crops would get damaged and crushed. But today’s cutting-edge multi-crop harvesters are carefully design to cater to such fragile crops without crushing and destroying them.
- Profitable farming is guaranteed – Harvesters make farming more efficient and effective, which thus increases the output and farming yield.
To eliminate farmers’ laborious efforts through use of multiple, single-purposed harvesting machines, combine harvesters were born. Combine harvesters are modern day farm equipment that combines the process of reaping, threshing, and winnowing. They are capable of harvesting multiple crops and thus increasing efficiency and farm productivity.
Let’s classify combine harvesters further in different types.
Different Types of Combine Harvesters
Combine Harvesters or harvesting machines are available in 3 distinct types mainly. Here are 3 major types of combine harvesters that are popularly utilise:
- Tractor Drawn Harvesters or Control Combine Harvesters
- Self Propelled Combine Harvesters
- Track Combine Harvesters
Tractor Drawn Combine Harvesters
Tractor mounted combine harvesters or control combine harvesters are attached to the tractor vehicles as they do not have their own power or wheels to operate independently.
They are attached to the tractor’s takeoff shaft to perform harvesting activities such as cutting, threshing, cleaning, and separating. Moreover, they are suitable for farm fields that are vast & have loose soil.
There are a few tractor-drawn combines that do have their own power as well, but they are not that popular.
Self Propelled Combine Harvesters
Self-propelled combine harvesters are often used on the farm fields. This wheeled combine can power its own machinery and doesn’t need the support of tractors, and is suitable for farm fields having hard soil. Moreover, these self propelled combined harvesters are of 2 types:
- Conventional Self Propelled Combine Harvesters
These harvesters have a threshing system and a straw walker that helps separate the seeds out of the straws.
- Axial Flow or Rotary Combine Harvesters
These harvesters have an axial flow threshing system that is ideal for meeting diverse harvesting needs.
Track Combine Harvesters
Track combine harvesters are harvesters that are fitted with the help of tracks instead of wheels.
They have a high ground clearance and a highly durable structure consisting of durable drivers, heavy-duty chassis, and an Eton pump. Which makes it ideal for performing even in wetlands where wheel-based harvesters might get stuck.
They usually help to harvest rice and other crops which are grow in wetlands specifically.
What are the Types of Harvesting Machinery? Based on Functionality & Purpose
In farming, harvesters are of wide design and functionality; it all depends on the type of crops or grains we are dealing with. In the following, let’s discuss the different types of harvesters that are popularly used.
- Self Propelled Fodder Harvester
- Self Propelled Vertical Conveyor Reaper
- Tractor Mounted Fodder Harvester
- Tractor Front Mounted Vertical Conveyor Reaper
Self Propelled Fodder Harvester
This self propelled fodder harvester or cutter bar is attach to a reaper binder machine for forage harvesting. Moreover, this machine helps to collect fodder crops like Lucerne and berseem.
Engine – 7.6 kW, air-cooled
Width and height of cut – 1.2 m & 50-100 mm
Field Capacity – 0.4 ha/h at forwarding speed of 4.00 km/h
Self Propelled Vertical Conveyor Reaper
This is an engine-operated harvester that’s suitable for collecting cereals like wheat and paddy and oilseed crops. Moreover, this machine replaces conventional labour and helps in saving 90-95% of labour and 63% in the cost of operation.
Field Capacity – 0.15 – 0.17 ha/h
Tractor Mounted Fodder Harvester
It is a flail type harvester that is used to facilitate chopping, harvesting & loading. Moreover, these harvest crops like maize, berseem, oats, sorghum, bajra of height upto 1.00 to 2.50 m with a stalk density of 20-80 plants/m².
It also helps in lodging and removing over mature crops easily. Moreover, the capacity of this harvester is 0.20 ha/h at a forward speed of 2.5-4.0 km/h.
Tractor Front Mounted Vertical Conveyor Reaper
This harvester is use to harvest crops like paddy and wheat. This machine can be controlled by the tractor’s hydraulic system along with the help of steel ropes and pulleys. Moreover, talking about its field capacity, it is 0.4 ha/h at a 2.5-3.5 km/h forward speed.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are the uses of harvester machine?
Harvester machines are use to harvest or collect a variety of ripened grain crops from the farm field with great efficiency and effectiveness.
2. What are the types of combined harvesters?
Two types of Combine harvesters mainly — Self-propelled combine harvesters and tractor-mounted combine harvesters.
3. Difference between harvester and combine harvester
Combine harvesters are modern farming equipment that combines the functionality of reaping, threshing, and cleaning into one, which helps harvest a variety of crops much more quickly and efficiently. However, traditional harvesters might lack such multiple functionalities and would require other machinery to complete the entire harvesting process. That’s why combine harvesters are much preferred in today’s scenario.
Top Tractor Combine Harvesters You Can Buy
If you are up for exploring different types of harvesters for your farm, here are a few brand choices to consider.
- Mahindra MSI 457 3A
- Preet 987
- Dasmesh 912- 4×4
- Kubota HARVESKING DC-68G-HK
- John Deere W70 Grain Harvester
- Swaraj 8100 EX SELF-PROPELLED
There are many other types of harvesters from top brands in an affordable price range and excellent functionality available, visit here.
Also Read: Top 10 Combine Harvesters in India
Bottom Line
As agriculture and technology are advancing, Indian farmers are unfolding more beneficial ways to grow their farm productivity while minimising costs. One of the most important advancements is different types of harvesters that help in reaping and collecting the crops during harvest season with much ease, effectiveness, and at a faster time period.
It is high time to explore, compare, and buy the best harvesting machinery to expand farm yield and reduce labour costs.
