POSTURAL STRESS AND MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS OF FARM WOMEN IN UPROOTING OF PADDY SEEDLINGS FROM MAT NURSERY

Abstract

– Uprooting of paddy seedlings from wet bed is one of the most drudgery prone farm activities of Assam. Raising paddy seedlings in mat nursery is a solution for reduction of drudgery of farm women. A study was carried out to assess postural stress and incidence of musculoskeletal problems of farm women while uprooting in mat nursery. Angle of deviation in lower lumber region was measured with Flexi curve. Body Map was used to identify pains in different parts of the body. Angle of deviation at lumbar region was higher in wet bed and reported more ‘severe’ pain in shoulder joints, back, legs due to prolonged bending posture adopted in uprooting deep rooted seedlings. Mat nursery is a suitable alternative to wet bed for reducing drudgery, muscular stress, and labor cost. It is important to bring resilience in Indian agriculture to climate change