Assessment of Drudgery of Farm Women in the Cotton Production System

Abstract

A sample of 50 farm women involved in cotton production system was selected from five villages of Parbhani district. Pretested interview schedule was used to collect the data. The activities performed by the farm women in selected production system were listed out. Six variables. Physical load, Postural load , Time load ,  Musculo skeletal Discomfort (MSD) load, Repetitive strain load and Physiological load were selected for characterizing drudgery of women in selected production system. Drudgery index was calculated based on total drudgery load.

Results indicated that drudgery index of women was categorized as medium to high in Cotton   production activites. Significant variation was observed due to factors contributing to drudgery of women labourer in cotton production system. Therefore in order of priority, physiological load, physical load, Repetitive strain load factors contributed to overall drudgery of women agricultural labourers.  The study revealed that drudgery of women labourers in Cotton cultivation is characterized by physiological, physical and repetitive strain load experienced due to lack of protective aids and appropriate technologies. Result emphasized the need of improving work life of women in agriculture by designing cost-effective tools/ implements, techniques based on ergonomic consideration to avoid physical load carrying, repetitive strain, long hours of work and health hazards.