Knowledge and Awareness Level of COVID-19 among the Farm Women and Its Impact on Agricultural Operation in Sikar District of Rajasthan

Abstract

In India, agriculture and related industries constitute the most important source of income. Around 120 million small-scale farmers play an important role in the country's food supply system. People's knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding any contagious disease, such as COVID-19, all play a role in determining a society's willingness to accept behavioural change strategies aimed at disease prevention. The majority of respondents (35.00 percent) are between the ages of 35 to 45, with 77 of the total respondents belonging to the OBC categories. The majority of respondents' educational levels were indicated as high school (49.17 percent). The findings of this study revealed that there was a high level of awareness, particularly among farm women, about the nature of disease, its symptoms, and the preventive actions that should be followed to prevent disease transmission. COVID-19 is a contagious disease caused by a virus, according to the majority of respondents (79.17%), and respiratory droplets are the virus's primary method of transmission, according to 75.00 percent of respondents. Farmers should bring their own food and water from home to their agricultural field, as well as soap and water, according to all of the respondents (81.67 percent). Besides, 73.34 percent of respondents believe that wearing a mask and maintaining social distance are necessary during agricultural tasks. COVID- 19 has also had an impact on agriculture. Farm women faced many constraints during this period. Out of which it is difficult to get agricultural inputs, animal feed and vaccines, lack of outside traders for product procurement, lack of technical experts to fix the problem in time, ignorance about government programs during the lockdown.