Vol. 9, Special Issue 9, Part X (2025)

Cabbage is a major vegetable crop cultivated worldwide, particularly in India, where it constitutes a significant share of vegetable production. Traditional cabbage harvesting relies heavily on manual labor which is time consuming, labor intensive and prone to inconsistencies in product quality. To address these challenges, various mechanical and semi-automated harvesting technologies have been developed globally, including tractor-mounted and self-propelled. This review provides a comprehensive assessment of cabbage harvesting technologies, focusing on the design, working principles and performance metrics of different machines. The paper also analyzes the physio-mechanical properties of cabbage relevant to harvester design, such as stem hardness, head diameter and pulling force. Key innovations in picking, lifting, cutting, conveying and leaf removal mechanisms are discussed in detail. Performance evaluations of various machines reveal significant improvements in harvesting efficiency, field capacity and labor savings, with some models achieving over 90 % efficiency and up to 50 % reduction in labor input. However, the adoption of these technologies in regions like India remains limited due to high costs, lack of suitable local designs and small land holdings. The review highlighted the need for cost-effective, modular harvesters adapted for small-scale farms and identifies opportunities for future research in automation, sensor integration and energy-efficient designs.