‘Monster' to miracle: How a machine in Punjab became India's harvesting hero

Indian Express

29-07-2025

It began as a mechanical curiosity — a giant, noisy machine that many farmers once feared would ruin their crops. Some dismissed it as a 'monster.' Yet five decades later, the combine harvester has become the backbone of mechanised harvesting in India. Punjab, which fed the nation after the Green Revolution, is now also the cradle of this machine, supplying farms across the country and beyond with growing export orders.
From just a couple of manufacturers in the early 1970s, the state now houses about 100 combine harvester manufacturing units, with a dozen major players. Kartar and Manku (makers of the Vishal brand) dominate the field with nearly 50% of the market. Other top names include Malkit, Preet, New Gurdeep and Guru Nanak Agriculture Engineering.
What began in the dusty bylanes of Bhadson, Patiala, Nabha, and Malerkotla in the wake of the Green Revolution (1965–66) was an audacious experiment: building a combine harvester from scratch. At a time when even a single machine a year was considered an achievement, these pioneers laid the foundation of an industry that now turns out around 8,000 self-propelled harvesters annually — a Rs 2,000-crore sector, with an average machine priced at about Rs 25 lakh.
This journey — from a hand-built machine costing a few lakhs to a nationwide industry — is one of grit, innovation and rural ingenuity. At its heart lies the industrious Ramgarhia community, originally part of the Ramgarhia Misl, a Sikh warrior group. Comprising Lohars (blacksmiths) and Tarkhans (carpenters), they were known for their craftsmanship. Based initially in Patiala, Sangrur and Malerkotla, they later expanded to Ludhiana and Barnala, transforming a humble idea into a nationwide agricultural revolution.
'In those days, mechanisation had just started with the Green Revolution, which boosted food production and created a need for machines to manage large-scale farming,' recalls Amar Singh, chairman of Dashmesh Group — a National Award winner in 2010 — and the All India Combine Manufacturers Association. 'A few combines were imported from Germany by Markfed, and we were inspired. At the time, we were only making small implements like the then-latest Toka (chaff cutter). The whole village would gather to watch it. We thought — why not build this machine ourselves?'
By the early 1970s, brands like Kartar, Dashmesh Group and Bharat Combines — then basic farm toolmakers — had entered the space. 'We started by modifying imported machines and introduced our own tractor-mounted combines, though they needed several iterations before official certification,' says Singh. 'We all knew each other — some were relatives, others distant kin — and supported one another as we refined our designs.'
Mankamal Singh, an MBA who joined the family business along with his father Sukhdev Singh, traces Bharat Combines' legacy: 'The Bharat 730 Deluxe Self-Propelled Harvester Combine was developed by my uncle Faqir Singh and his brothers, who started by repairing farm machinery. He visited Germany and other countries, bringing back ideas. In 1966, they launched their first harvester tailored to Indian needs. After years of trials and the registration of Jiwan Agricultural Implement Workshop C.I.S. Ltd. in Patiala in 1970, the Bharat 730 Deluxe became one of the key players in India's Green Revolution. By 1989, it received official certification from the Central Farm Machinery Training & Testing Institute, Budni.'
Almost all these early brands launched their machines around the same time, with Kartar introducing the first in 1974. Today, combine parts are made in nearly every corner of Nabha and Bhadson. What began as an experiment has become a full-blown industry, with Swaraj and others joining in the 1980s.
Winning over sceptics
'After making them, it wasn't easy,' Mankamal admits. 'Farmers didn't trust the machines. We had to literally beg them: 'Just try it on a few kanals. If it fails, don't use it again.''
But the results were startling. 'Farmers were so impressed, it felt like inqilab aa gaya (a revolution had arrived) in Punjab,' he recalls. Today, with minor tweaks, the same machines harvest multiple crops, and manufacturers are adding AI and other upgrades.
Soon after, self-propelled harvesters arrived. Machines became smarter and stronger, and production scaled up — from one or two units a year to full-fledged factories across Punjab's combine belt: Samana, Malerkotla, Barnala, Nabha and Sangrur. 'It's now an ecosystem,' says Mankamal.
'I remember my father saying how reluctant farmers once were. In Andhra Pradesh, they even called these machines 'monsters' that would destroy crops. Now they're the most sought-after tool every harvest season,' Mankamal says.
From a few lakh rupees in the 1970s, a combine harvester today costs Rs 25–35 lakh, depending on features. More than saving time, these machines transformed farm life. 'Earlier, harvesting, threshing and cleaning took nearly two and a half months and relied on proper wind. Now it's done in hours by a single machine,' Singh says. Equipped with more than a dozen components, they accomplish everything in one go.
Krishan Kumar, who has spent nearly three decades in sales at Kartar Combines, calls the transformation staggering: 'From manually assembled machines to today's computerised precision models — it's a huge leap. Back then, a breakdown could take days. Now, most issues are fixed within hours. With one tractor in 1974, we now manufacture 25 machines a day.'
Baldev Singh, chairman of the All India Agriculture Mechanical Machinery Association and president of the Punjab State Agriculture Industry Manufacturers Association, credits consistent quality: 'Punjab's machines have earned trust nationwide — from farmers to dealers. Despite new units in Gujarat, Punjab remains unmatched in scale, quality and engineering precision. Our harvesters are the first choice in several Asian and African countries.'
A growing ecosystem
Today, 85% of harvesters built in Punjab go to other states, with the remaining 15% used locally. Multi-crop attachments allow them to harvest wheat, paddy, maize and more in one pass. Punjab has around 18,000 harvesters, with 15% replaced each year. Every season, 5,000-6,000 machines head to Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh for early harvesting before returning home for Punjab's crop cycle.
The industry has spurred allied businesses — fabrication units, paint shops, tyre dealers, gear manufacturers, transporters and mechanics — sustaining thousands of livelihoods across semi-urban and rural Punjab.
Jagdeep Singh, a farmer from Sangrur, captures the shift: 'Our elders used to walk behind a sickle all day. Now I can harvest 15 acres in a day. This machine saved us — from labour shortages and rising costs. It's a lifeline in farming.'
Challenges
The rising input costs, volatile steel prices, lack of formal government recognition and limited infrastructure, especially for smaller units are among the few challenges. Yet manufacturers are betting on AI diagnostics, GPS systems and smart displays. Most combines sell in the Rabi (wheat) and Kharif (paddy) seasons, with the industry running at full capacity for about five months annually. Many new models now feature Super Straw Management Systems (Super SMS), mandatory in Punjab to curb stubble burning.
'Punjab's combine sector contributes hundreds of crores annually to the state's economy and provides employment to thousands,' says Jagdeep.
From welding shops in narrow alleys to sprawling factories, Punjab's combine harvester story is one of rural engineering and quiet industrial strength — the 'monster' turned miracle, powering harvests that feed a nation.