Economic Evaluation of Precise Intelligent Cauliflower Harvester: A Comparative Study with Manual Harvesting

Abstract

Aim: The traditional harvesting of cauliflower has been done by hand using labor-intensive, expensive, and time-consuming techniques that frequently lead to significant yield losses because immature curds are harvested without selection. A rising number of people are interested in creating selective cauliflower harvesters that can precisely detect and gather healthy, mature heads while reducing damage, waste, and labor-intensive operations in response to these difficulties. The purpose of this research article is to present a thorough analysis of the ownership and operating costs related to this kind of selective harvesting technology. Methodology: Through accurate cost insights, farmers can make well-informed decisions on the purchase of new machinery, the maintenance, and upkeep of current equipment, or the investigation of alternative approaches to improve farm productivity and financial results. The economic assessment was conducted through the computation of operating costs utilizing the straight-line method, coupled with breakeven point analysis and determination of the payback period. Results: The developed selective harvester's ownership and running costs are calculated to be 58.41 and 75.5 rupees per hour, respectively. The selective harvester has several advantages over typical manual harvesting techniques, as demonstrated by a comparative analysis. In particular, the selective harvester shows a remarkable 24.6% cost reduction in addition to saving an astounding 60.6% of the necessary time. Conclusion: These results highlight the efficiency and financial gains that come with using selective cauliflower harvesting technologies. This analysis is further utilized by farmers for decision-making.