India and China are the largest producers and consumers of tea. Tea leaves are ready for harvesting after 5 years. Manual harvesting involves plucking only the buds and youngest leaves by hand. An experienced worker can harvest 40kg per day. Mechanized harvesting was introduced due to labor shortages and increasing wages, and can harvest over 1000kg in 8 hours. There are two main types of tea leaf harvesters - petrol/gas powered machines that harvest 900kg per day but produce fumes and noise, and battery powered machines that are quieter but can damage leaves and harvest only 30kg per hour. Selective harvesting machines harvest more efficiently while minimizing damage to tea bushes.

1. TEA HARVESTing
PRESENTED BY
AJI.E.B
2013-02-004

2. Introduction
• India and China are the largest producers as
well as the consumers of tea
• 70% of tea produced in India is consumed in
India itself.
• The tea leaves of new tea plant are ready for
harvesting in five years.
• For good quality tea only the buds including the
third leaf has to be plucked and processed.
• An experienced person will pluck around 40kg
of tea leaf per day.

3. MECHANISATION
• Mechanical harvesting was first introduced in Argentina.
• The shortage of laborers and the increase in wages
• This resulted in the mechanization of tea leaves
harvesting.
• Mechanized harvesting helps in reducing the man hour.
• The output For mechanical harvesting is 1000kg/8hr
compared to 25-40kg plucked by operator.

4. TEA LEAF HARVESTING
MANUAL
BY SCISSORS
HAND
PLUCKING
MACHINE
PETROL/GAS
OPERATED
BATTERY
OPERATED

5. PLUCKING /HARVESTING
• A very vigorous task.
• 2 types of plucking-
1. Fine plucking
2. Coarse plucking

6. FINE PLUCKING
• Only the bud, the second
and third leaves are
harvested.
• This type of harvesting
tea makes very fine and
delicate flavoured tea.
• It is usually lighter and
sweeter in taste.
COARSE PLUCKING
• Along with the bud, two
or more mature leaves are
harvested.
• This type of harvesting
tea produces lower quality
tea.
• It gives a more stronger
flavoured tea
plucking

7. Petrol/Gas operated machine
• From the engine , power is
transferred to the blower
and the cutting blade.
• Reciprocating movement
of the blades which are
placed one above the other
• blower blows these leaves
into the bag
• Once the bag is filled, it
is replaces with new bag.
• capacity 900 kg/day

8. Battery operated harvesting machine
• Energy is a 12v 7.5 Ah battery.
• Power is transferred in to Dc
motor and it rotates
• Rotating motion from motor
transfer in to bevel gears
• Fast rotating blades cut the tea
leaves
• Metal plate that is connected to
the axis of the blade is responsible
for the transferring of cut leaves
into the bag attached.
capacity 30kg/hr
weight 3kg

9. problems
• Increasing price, fumes and smell, body pain due
to overweight are the common complaints about
petrol operated machine
• This machine consumes 600ml of petrol per hour.
• Damage to tea leaves is the complaint about
battery operated machine

10. • Selective harvesting leaves immature shoots
• Works with a scissor-like action.
• Increases plucker productivity.

11. • Enables harvesting in time.
• Reduces labour requirements by 50% or more.
• Harvested leaf is less damaged than manually
picked leaf.
• Minimises plucker fatigue.
• Environment – friendly.
• Reasonable pay back period of few weeks.
• Easy maintenance.
• No additional operating costs.

12. Selective harvesting

13. WILLIAMES UL1000 & UL750 SELECTIVE
TEA HARVESTERS

14. FEATURES
• Light weight
• Support by the tea bushes eliminates “walking bounce”
giving excellent height control
• Simple Rotary design – no gearboxes
• “V” belt speed Reduction
• Sealed for life bearings, no greasing required easy
maintenance
• No grease contamination of crop
• Reliable Honda 4 stroke engine
• No mixing of oil with fuel required - no smoke –
environment friendly

15. • Approximately half the operating cost of
comparable two stroke engines.
• Overhead cam with belt drive gives efficient &
exceptionally quiet operating
• Optional plucking width of 750 or 1000 mm
• Harvest speed up to 4 k.p.h.
• High grade rustless Aluminum construction
• Simple one lever operation
• Automatic maintenance free clutch
• “Kill switch” ensures no confusion allowing
operation by unskilled workers

16. Tea Harvesting
• Patented rotary Selective Plucking mechanism harvests up to 4
kms per hour
• Over 90,000 selective plucks per hour over the full machine
width
• Accurate and even plucking table, giving high quality plucking
• Ease of maintenance
• Sealed for life bearings
• Rotary, no gearbox efficient design. No reciprocating parts

17. Leaf Container
• Integral with machine
• No separate leaf bag – no bag to wear out or carry
• Two person operation
QUALITY
• High quality leaf
• Minimizes bush damage
• Quicker bush recovery

18. Conclusions
developments……
Different methods of harvesting

20. THANK YOU