Awareness about Drudgery Reducing Technologies for Farm Women

Abstract

Background: Agriculture is the process of producing food, feed, fiber and many other desired products by the cultivation of certain plants. The practice of agriculture is also known as “farming”. Agricultural technology refers to technology for the production of machines used on a farm to help with farming. Agricultural machineries have been designed for practically every stage of the agricultural process. They include machines for tilling the soil, planting seeds, irrigating the land, cultivating crops, protecting them from pests and weeds, harvesting, threshing grain, livestock feeding and sorting and packaging the products. Technology has played a big role in developing the agricultural industry. And women play major role in farming activities, which constitute nearly 43% of the world’s agricultural labor force, which rises up to 70% in some countries. But they do not have adequate awareness and access to improved technologies to reduce their drudgery and improve productivity, unlike men. Hence the present study has been conducted to make a positive impact by empowering them and bring awareness. Methods: In this research study sample were selected on the basis of front line demonstration method to introduce the set of 7 drudgery reducing tools i.e. Paddy thresher, Twin wheel hoe, Serrated sickle, Vegetable collection bag, milking stand cum stool, stalk puller, Rack, were given to the farm women for exposure .These implements were given to 5 self help group of 50 farm women and data were collected from them regarding the awareness about the technologies before and after the front line Demonstration programmes. Result: Adoption levels were assessed after completion of a crop season. It was found that partial awareness was there about the improved equipment before training and awareness was in the random selected group after the training programs. About 80 per cent of the farm women have adopted the given technologies. This study can helpful for promotion of technology in gender perspective towards the challenges of farm women would help in reducing drudgery and occupational health problems of women workers in agriculture.