We consider reapers an important selective step between hand harvesting with sickles and fully mechanized harvesting by the large combines harvesters. Reapers cut rice, wheat and other field crops and lay them in a wind row for dying and for later bundling and threshing. Whether on 2 or 4-wheel tractors reapers reduce the huge labor demand (spike) involved in hand harvesting with sickles. But instead of removing all the labor via combine harvesters reapers still require some labor for bundling into sheaves and for threshing. Estimates vary, yet NAEF own estimates are that the labor is reduced by by approximately from 45 people per day per hecatare (for cutting, binding and threshing) to 15 people per day or a reduction of 66% by removing the extremely laborious hand cutting.

The Chinese two-wheel tractor reapers have not been widely adopted as NAEF feels the current price of nearly 700 USD is too high. We estimate there are perhaps 50 two-wheel tractor reapers sold in Nepal in the last 8 years. The cost for renting is now over 400 NRs / 6 USD per hour. They can cut one hectare in 4-7 hours depending on the size and shape of the fields. Farmers report a savings of over 40% with the use of these machines.

A two-wheel tractor 1.3 meter reaper cutting wheat near Dekauwer, Rupandehi

Four-wheel tractors which have been popular in the north west of India and Pakistan have begun to be seen in Nepal in the last few years yet still in small numbers, perhaps less than 30. Cost of these reapers are are approximately 130,000 NRs or 1800 USD dollars. They can cut one hectare in 2-4 hours again depending on the size and shape of the fields. Rental costs are approximately 800 - 1000 NRs per hour or 11-14 USD with similar cost savings as the 2-wheel tractor's reaper.

An Amar Engineering 2.2 meter reaper

Combines harvesters made in India came into Nepal over 10 years ago and perhaps now number perhaps more than 20 (as of October 2009). They are found along Nepal's border with Uttar Pradesh as these combines have not entered in significant numbers in Bihar – along Nepal's south eastern border. epal. NAEF does not want to stop their adoption but only that the government and other ag projects need to make the reapers equally and more easily available to potential buyers. There are no sales/dealers for combines in Nepal so buyers must go to India and import them themselves. Costs approximately range from 12,000 to 20,000 USD.

An 85 horsepower combine near Lumbini, Nepal