Methods of harvesting pulse crops

Abstract

Pulse crops are harvested by hand in the Middle-East, North Africa and West Asia. Labour is often scarce and harvesting costs are expensive; this has threatened continuity of production in some regions. However, pulses are successfully harvested mechanically in the USA and elsewhere. Introducing mechanical harvesting systems to developing countries is very difficult, because of the habit of the crop cultivars grown, the environmental conditions which prevail, and the cultural practices used by farmers. Simple and inexpensive harvesting equipment which can be powered by tractor could be a potential solution. Intensive efforts by international and national research programmes are now being made to overcome this important constraint.