Vol. 7, Issue 2, Part A (2025)

Leafy vegetables are a vital component of the human diet due to their rich nutritional profile, including proteins, vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber, while being naturally low in calories. In India, these crops especially chickpea leaves, amaranthus, and spinach are traditionally harvested manually. This method is highly labour-intensive, causes physical discomfort due to continuous bending postures, and results in low operational efficiency and increased harvesting costs. With the rising demand for leafy vegetables and a shortage of agricultural labour, it is essential to mechanize the harvesting process. To address these challenges, a battery-operated leafy vegetable harvester was designed, developed, and tested at SVCAET and RS, IGKV, Raipur. The machine features a cutting unit powered by a 250 W DC motor (42 V, 20 Ah battery) and a conveyor system driven by a 350 W DC motor (27 V, 20 Ah battery), with a 0.6 m stainless-steel blade, canvas conveyor belt, and the conveyor system provided with a handling capacity of 5.5 kg with minimal leaf damage. The speed of machine was 2.17 km/h and field capacity of 0.13 ha/h, with 86.96% field efficiency. The developed harvester is efficient, economical, and suitable for small- and medium-scale farmers, offering a sustainable alternative to manual harvesting.