National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS)
|
PRINT ISSN : 2319-7692
Online ISSN : 2319-7706 Issues : 12 per year Publisher : Excellent Publishers Email : editorijcmas@gmail.com / submit@ijcmas.com Editor-in-chief: Dr.M.Prakash Index Copernicus ICV 2018: 95.39 NAAS RATING 2020: 5.38 |
Occupational Health Hazards of Farm Woman Engaged in Mango and Cashew Nut Orchards
In fruit crops, women's participations are substantial and their roles are more or less passive. They follow traditional practices and perform various activities with traditional tools are drudgery prone and often lead to occupational health hazards. Women farmers have less awareness and knowledge of tools/ equipment for various unit farm operations. Sometimes if known, the tools and implements are not suitable for them resulting their working efficiency is less and productivity is low. Apart from these working with awkward postures for long hours affect health and induces musculoskeletal problems due to postural discomforts. Keeping these in view, a study was conducted to determine the problems responsible for occupational hazards of the women farmers working in the mango and cashew nut orchards of Dhenkanal district in Odisha. Data were collected from 120 respondents (75 women and 45 men). Group discussion & interviews were conducted in participatory mode and musculoskeletal problems were identified with Body map. The data revealed that farm workers performed 44 types of activities in mango and cashew nut orchards. Out of the total activities, independent participation of farm women were found in 20 activities whereas the men workers participated in 13 activities independently and participation of both was found in 10 different types of activities. They performed these activities manually or with traditional tools and there were evidences of injuries in hands, palms, fingers & nails as most of the tasks executed in bare hands. The farmers/ farm women working in orchards or nurseries of Mango and Cashew nut are very less exposed to different manually and power operated tools and equipment used in fruit crops and still they are using the traditional tools. They perform various tasks with static awkward posture and repetitive motion of upper and lower limbs which was responsible for musculoskeletal injuries and disorders in the long run. Hence, there is a need to introduce women friendly farm tools and equipment and protective clothing for the farm women engaged in mango and cashew nut orchards for reducing occupational hazards.
Citations |
 |
 |
 |
 |
