Transforming from Hand Labor to Mechanical Harvesting A change of concept

1945

Over 100 years ago man have transformed from hand labor to mechanical harvesting in Agriculture.

Xinjiang, China

With that change, man had to face new issues like: Size of fields Loss of yield in the field Waste in the plant

Combination of mechanical harvesting and hand labor US

Each transition, like in Cotton and Tomatoes, was accompanied by great waste which agrarians had to learn to accept as part of the change.

Mechanical Tomato Harvesting Israel

Cotton Harvesting Israel

It is clear today that no farmer would go back even if wastage was to be decreased. Bottom line, from my own personal experience, mechanical harvest gives more crops, although it seems as if there is more wastage in the fields.

Mechanical Harvest China

T he advantages of mechanical harvesting are: Continuous harvesting with lesser limitations– some crops can be harvested 24/7 Equal results between mechanical and hand labor harvest as far as damages to the crops and dirt. Hygienic work without human touch. High capacity

Bell Pepper Mechanical Harvesting Portugal

In the last 30 years many have tried to mechanize Peppers' harvesting. The solutions reached were partial and limited to a small variety of Pepper kinds.

Stripping the fruit without causing any damage to the fruit or plant enables second Harvest

The challenge is: Develop a mechanized harvesting solution that equals to hand labor quality High capacity Adapt the plants machinery

There should be synergy between the Variety Research & Growing to development of the harvesters: Harvest, sort, filed preparation, irrigation system, containers, arrive in the plant, cleaning the crop in the plant. The demand for mechanized solutions is growing even in the developing countries. Around the globe, labor becomes more expensive, as lesser people want to work in agriculture, while the demand for the products grows.

Reducing Aflatoxin – Mechanical picking/harvest eliminates the need of hand touching the fruit and keeping it exposed on the ground which leads to Aflatoxin.

We need to look into the future and think about Food Security and how are we going to feed the world in 20 years, considering the rise in labor coast, the rise in oil prices and Global weather change.

One-time of sweet paprika dried harvest on the plant. On the ground is fruit that fell from the wind. Israel

Thank you!

Elad Etgar