期刊名称：International Journal of Innovative Research in Science, Engineering and Technology
印刷版ISSN：2347-6710
电子版ISSN：2319-8753
出版年度：2016
卷号：5
期号：9
页码：16374
DOI：10.15680/IJIRSET.2016.0509115
出版社：S&S Publications
摘要：Most of the animal husbandry activities, viz. fodder collection, cutting, milking, etc. are more or lessfarmwomen’s responsibility in most parts of India, especially Haryana. An ergonomic study was undertaken todetermine the physiological and biomechanical stress of women engaged in fodder collection in Mewat region ofHaryana. Data was collected from 100 women to elicit information regarding their participation in various animalhusbandry operations. The field experiment was carried out for one hour on 40 farmwomen belonging to two agegroups, viz. 25-35 yrs and 35-45 yrs. Findings revealed that cent percent women were agricultural labourers havingfamily income up toRs. 5000 per month, possessing 1-5 animals, belonging to nuclear family (65.00 %) with a familysize of 5-7 member (52.00 %). They were mainly engaged in animal husbandry to meet out the family requirementsand supplement family income. Farmwomen collected 30-35 kg of fodder per day, travelling a distance of 2-3 km,spending up to 3-4 hours per day in collection of fodder. Average working heart rate of women increased up to 112.3beats per minute and 115.8 beats per minute in the two age groups, respectively. Energy expenditure was more in older(9.69 kJ/min) than younger group (9.13 kJ/min). Women perceived heavy exertion after the activity as it was performedunder the scorching temperatures ranging between 43-45°C in the month of May and June. Since fodder collection isperformed throughout the year, women have to face adversity of weather conditions, especially during peak summerand winter season. Besides, these women were agricultural labourers and had to perform various arduous farmactivities like wheat, rice and bajra harvesting, rice transplanting, interculturing of crops, cotton picking, etc. adoptingunnatural body postures requiring frequent bending from the waist. Various types of musculo-skeletal discomforts werereported by women especially in the lower and upper back, wrists and thighs, etc. They tied jholis (makeshift bagsmade from a cloth) to their shoulders and back to collect fodder and emptied them after filling 5-6 kg of load resultingin severe discomfort in neck. The findings of the study suggest that there is an urgent need to reduce drudgery ofwomen in various farm activities including fodder collection. Means are required to be devised so that the farmwomendo not suffer from vertebral column related injuries and pain on account of carrying continuous load on their head andback. The study warrants an urgent need for promotion of training programmes in villages for addressing the issues ofmusculo-skeletal problems of women with emphasis on maintaining proper posture during fodder collection and otherfarm oriented activities. Promotion of improved sickle, especially designed for women, would be an important tool inhand to reduce drudgery of farmwomen.
