Harvesting - Definition, Methods, Process, Importance and FAQs (2024)

Harvesting of crops involves the process of gathering mature crops from the fields. It is a critical step in agriculture that ensures the crops are collected at their peak quality and stored properly to prevent spoilage and loss. The process can be done by either harvesting machines or by skilled workers.

In this article, we will cover the process of harvesting in detail.

Harvesting

Harvesting is the method where the crops are cut for processing after they mature. It is done manually with the sickle or done mechanically. In today’s times, harvesting machines such as combine harvesters are used. Harvesting depends on many factors like season, crop variety, maturity period, etc. Reaping is the cutting of crops for harvest, by using a scythe, sickle, or reaper.

Manually harvesting is done by using sickles but it is a tiring job and is also time-consuming. In recent times, machines called harvesters have been used for harvesting, especially wide-ranging farming harvesting, where threshing of the crop has to be carried out.

Threshing is the procedure, in which, the collected grains are separated from the husks by beating or by the threshing machine. In small-scale farming, husks and grains are separated from each other by a procedure called winnowing. Harvesting is contemplated as a festival in most parts of the country. It is a time of joy when the fruits of the hard work of farmers come into reality. Some of the harvesting festivals are Pongal, Bihu, etc.

Methods of Harvesting

The different methods of harvesting are:

• Manual harvesting: Hand harvesting is a technique for manually or by hand picking grains, fruits, vegetables, leaves, etc.
• Harvesting with Hand Tools: Crops are harvested by farmers using a few tools. Harvesting using hand tools includes using a little axe, a big axe, a darat, a gandasa, a small sickle, etc.
• Machine harvesting: Machine harvesting is the practice of gathering large quantities of grains with the aid of contemporary harvesters. A contemporary harvester can work in tandem with other massive gear to simultaneously cut and clean the grains.

Harvesting Process Stages

The various steps and stages involved in the harvesting process are:

• Reaping: Reaping is the process of removing mature panicles and straws that have grown above the ground.
• Threshing: Threshing is separating the food grains—such as paddy, wheat, etc.—from the rest of the cut crop.
• Cleaning: Cleaning is a crucial step in the harvesting process, and it largely entails figuring out how to get immature and non-grain particles, dust, and other contaminants out of edible food grains.
• Stacking/Piling: Stacking is a technique for piling or stacking harvested crops for storage.
• Bagging: The final step in the harvesting process is bagging. For storage and transportation, the threshed grains are kept in gunny bags.
• Storage: Small-scale farmers use the harvested crop for their consumption, whereas large-scale production is mostly used for marketing. As a result, the farmers must store the grains. For this, suitable storage space must be set up. A significant loss of grain might result from inadequate storage space and poor storage practices.

In addition to insects and rodents, the stored grains may be attacked by bacteria, fungi, and environmental factors including moisture and temperature. Therefore, the grains must be properly treated before being stored. Pesticides can be used to stop rodent infestations. Fungal growth on grains is a result of a damp environment. Grain drying properly in the sun will prevent this.

Fumigation is another technique that uses chemicals to stop bacteria and other microbes. Grain must be properly treated before being kept in granaries or gunny sacks and placed in godowns. As a result, it is clear how crucially vital grain harvesting and storage are to crop productivity.

Principles for Harvesting

Farmers observe the following principles when harvesting:

• Using a Sharp to Slice Sharp Edge.
• Rough Serrated Edge to Tear.
• High-Velocity Impact on a Single Element with Sharp or Dull Edges.
• Two-element shearing or Scissor Type Cutting.

Importance of Harvesting

The importance of harvesting is given below:

• Utilizing cutting-edge technology to harvest crops decreases grain waste and improves grain quality and quantity.
• To preserve the quality of the fruits and ensure that the tools being used don’t harm the plant, the direction in which fruits, grains, and vegetables are chopped during harvest is crucial.
• The quality of grains or seed protection is enhanced by harvesting at the proper time.

Methods of Crop Production and Management

The production and management of crops is a significant point to ensure optimal productivity in the fields. The major agriculture practices engaged with crop production and management are listed below:

• Preparing of soil: The soil is loosened and leaned before the seeds are planted. Ploughs are used for planting seeds. If the soil contains big lumps, they are broken with the help of a hoe. This process circulates air through the soil so the roots breathe easily. The nutrients and minerals get easily blended in with the soil and come to the top, the fertility of the soil grows and is fit for plantation.
• Sowing of seeds: Good quality seeds are sown in the land at the proper depth and distance.
• Addition of Manure and Fertilizers: The soil may not have the right amount of nutrients to efficiently help plant growth. Hence, manures and fertilizers are added to the soil to increase fertility and help plants grow well. Manure is prepared by using decomposing plant and animal matter in compost pits. Fertilizers, on the other hand, are chemicals prepared in factories that contain nutrients for a specific plant. It gives faster results. But it has to be used in limited quantity, otherwise, the soil gets infertile.
• Irrigation: Crops require water for proper growth. The supply of water to the plants is known as irrigation. Sources of irrigation are wells, rivers, lakes, and tube wells. The traditional methods of agriculture involve the use of humans and animals. The modern methods of irrigation are the drip system and sprinkler method.
• Protection of weeds: The unwanted plants that develop alongside the yields are called weeds. These weeds feed on the nutrients given to the crop thus decreasing the supply of nutrients to the crop, in this manner, inhibiting their growth.
  Removing weeds is called weeding. Weedicides are used to destroy weeds, they are sprayed before seeding.

Conclusion – Harvesting

In conclusion, harvesting involves the gathering of mature crops for processing or consumption. Harvesting methods vary from manual labor with sickles to mechanized techniques using harvesters. The process includes stages such as reaping, threshing, cleaning, stacking, and bagging, followed by crucial storage practices to prevent grain loss. Harvesting principles, including using sharp tools and timing, ensure optimal yield and grain quality. Proper crop production and management practices, such as soil preparation, seed sowing, irrigation, and weed control, are essential for maximizing productivity in agriculture.

Also Read:

• Crop Protection
• Basic Practices of Crop Production
• Crop Production and Management
• Difference Between Rabi and Kharif Crop
• Agricultural Practices – Planting, Irrigation, Weeding, Harvesting, Storage

FAQs on Harvesting

What is Harvesting for Class 8?

Harvesting for Class 8 refers to the gathering of mature crops from fields for consumption or further processing.

What is the Harvesting Crop?

Harvesting crop involves collecting mature crops like wheat, rice, or maize from fields using appropriate tools or machinery.

What is it Called Harvest?

Harvest is the act of gathering ripe crops from fields, marking the culmination of the agricultural cycle.

What is an Example of Harvesting?

An example of harvesting is collecting ripe apples from orchards using baskets or mechanical harvesters.

What are Harvesting Machine?

Harvesting machines are agricultural equipment designed to efficiently gather crops from fields, reducing manual labor and increasing productivity.