Agriculture for Sustainable Development 2(1):62-64, 2014/Article
ISSN 2347-5358 (Print)/ 2349-2228 (Online)
Agriculture for Sustainable Development http://www.sustainableagriculture.in
ANTHROPOMETRY OF FEMALE AGRICULTURAL WORKERS JABALPUR ANAMIKA JHA* AND K. B. TIWARI College of Agricultural Engineering , JNKVV Jabalpur (MP)- 482 004, India Received: 15.04.2014
Revised accepted: 17.05.2014
ABSTRACT Keywords: Anthropometry, Body dimensions, farm equipment, Agricultural workers
An anthropometric survey of Indian farm workers was conducted from the Jabalpur region of Madhya Pradesh in order to obtain information on the body dimensions, which may be used in ergonomic design of farm equipments and hand tools. The samples which include females involved in different agricultural activities randomly selected from the Jabalpur district. Twenty seven (27) structural body dimensions necessary for the design of farm equipments/machineries were identified and the survey was conducted on 100 female farm workers within the age limit of 20 to 45 years. The data obtained from the measurements were statistically analyzed and compared with those obtained from male agricultural workers in Madhya Pradesh. Results revealed that the mean stature of female farm workers was 1511 ± 58.67mm. Based on these findings, it indicates concern of proper designing of agricultural machines and tools for better comfort and safety of female farm workers.
INTRODUCTION India largely depends on agriculture which is derived from the labour and workout comes of highly dedicated farm workers. Of these farm workers 74% are female worker who although being the centre of which household, family and society runs, work in agricultural fields for produce to feed the country. The large participation of women in agriculture has not been highlighted unfortunately and thus, they have remained as invisible workers but most dependable ones.Among major farm activities, the participation of farm women is maximum in cutting, picking, drying, cleaning of grains, storage, processing (100% participation), 90–95% participation in grading and winnowing, 89.5% in shifting produce from field to threshing floors, 85% in cleaning of field, 60–70% in thinning, weeding and threshing.Studies have revealed that these farm activities have some major irrevocable effects on human body. Belt engagement and feeding of crop have attributed to major thresher injuries. Crop management practices such as weeding, cutting/uprooting, picking/doffing, transplanting, removing of stalks and stubbles have been found to be maximum drudgery involved agricultural activities which are being performed by 70-100% of women agricultural workers. Anthropometry being the measurement and study of various physical traits like size, mobility and strength is the best tool to be applied for design of equipment, workplace and clothing to enhance the system efficiency safety and comfort of farm worker. Thus to fulfill the objective of
*Corresponding author email: anu.6sag@gmail.com
availability of anthropometric data to manufacturers of agricultural machineries and tools, this study was conducted. This study with the data obtained will help to increase output and safety because the man-machine interface is a major factor in performance of the machinery, equipment or hand tool. MATERIALS AND METHODS The study was carried out in Jabalpur district of Madhya Pradesh state. At first, an anthropometry was developed and fabricated to measure the body dimensions in X, Y and Z directions.The anthropometry consisted of 2000 mm steel scale to measure different body dimensions of worker in ‘Y’ direction. This scale was fixed on a vertical slotted iron bar of length 2000 mm, width 65 mm and thickness 25 mm made of angle iron (25 × 25 mm and thickness 25 mm). To use scale in both horizontal and vertical positions, a provision was given so that the scale can be rotated on the bearing by 360º and a locking system was given to fix it in horizontal or vertical direction. To measure the dimensions in ‘Z’ direction, two pointers of stainless steel scale (180 mm) was attached to the vertical scale such that it can be sided throughout its length. A platform made up of wooden plank of size 480 × 480 × 30 mm supported by a frame of angle iron (30 × 30 mm and thickness 3 mm) was provided for the object to stand or sit on the chair for measurement of body dimensions.
Agriculture for Sustainable Development 2(1):62-64, 2014/Article
The constructed anthropometry was taken to the seed processing plant of J.N.K.V.V for survey and collection of data. The population for study comprised of female workers of Jabalpur district of Madhya Pradesh state who perform the field and machinery work. Farm women were selected by the method of Simple Random Sampling without Replacement for collection and survey of anthropometric dimensions. A sample of 100 women out of 500 farm workers was selected for the study. The selected women were in the age group of 25 to 45 years. This age group was selected for the study because according to Reinberg et al. (1970) the peak of muscle strength for both men and women is reached between the ages of 25 to 35 years old. Older workers between 50 and 60 years can produce only about 75 to 80 per cent of muscular strength compared to their younger days. The anthropometric data were collected keeping in view that they were free from any physical abnormalities and were in sound health. Fifteen (15) anthropometric dimensions of the farm workers in various standing postures were recorded by asking the worker to stand on the platform of the anthropometry. For collection of (12) anthropometric data of workers in various sitting postures, a height adjustable stool was kept on the platform and subject was asked to sit straight on it for measurements. The data obtained from the survey work were analyzed for mean, standard deviation, 5th and 95th percentile values of the population for effective designing of workplace payouts and controls. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION All the anthropometric data that was collected using anthropometry, of female agricultural workers of Jabalpur region were compiled and is presented in Table-1. 95th percentile values of stature of female agricultural workers of Jabalpur were 1618 mm which suggested that the height of any workplace or its entry/exit should be minimize of 1618 mm for women workers. Machineries or tools used by women for weeding, thinning or threshing should be designed by considering 5th percentile value as it acts as restrictive factor. Already surveyed and anthropometric data collected for male agricultural workers of Madhya Pradesh were studies to find the comparison between the anthropometric dimensions of male and female workers and it showed that most of the vertical dimensions of female were 89-91% to that of male workers. CONCLUSION This survey of 27 anthropometric data can be used for designing or modifying agricultural machines for safety and comfort of female agricultural workers. The mean weight and stature (±SD) of female workers of Jabalpur region was 53.7 ± 8.06 kg and 1511 ± 58.67mm respectively. The 5th and 95th percentile value of Acromial height, inter elbow span, hip breadth, knee height, trochanteric height, grip diameter, arm reach to front wall are
Jha and Tiwari
some crucial data to be considered while designing machines and tools to be used by female population of agricultural workers. Table 1 Percentile values of different body dimensions of female workers Parameters
Mean
SD
Min
Max
Weight kg
53.70
8.06
37.00
82.00
Percentile values 5th 95th 40.00 66.00
Stature
1511
56.87
1310
1650
1420
1618
Standing eye height
1388
56.88
1200
1520
1300
1509
Acromial height
1290
52.36
1080
1360
1150
1340
Standing elbow height
929
52.21
803
1045
850
1020
Inter–elbow span
784.61
43.91
691.2
865
700
854
Hip breadth
306.82
62.95
240
560
242
430
Elbow functional reach
419.64
33.80
320
482
340
467
Crotch height
674.71
47.01
560
804
600
769
Trochanteric height
721
42.00
563
887
650
792
Arm reach from wall
731
34.00
570
850
673
792
Biacromial breadth
285
18.30
252
310
262
301
Chest circumference
825
74.60
650
1000
720
908.5
Waist circumference
768
52.00
624
915
650
864
Grip diameter
49.5
5
34
60
42
58
Sitting height
703.97
43.64
500
812
642
798
Sitting eye height
612.76
37.94
530
745
550
681
Sitting shoulder height
469.04
42.54
325
587
377
524
Sitting elbow height
204
21.70
164
265
176
242
Thigh clearance height
121.5
13.50
87.5
155
99.87
150
Popliteal height
374.4
23.4
260
412
335
402.5
Forward reach
638
44.00
510
725
550
717
Vertical functional grip reach
947
41.67
850
1100
875
1025
Knee height
468
27.17
337
520
427
510
Buttock-popliteal length
465
28.00
420
540
425
525
Buttock-knee length
540
32.12
425
610
455
580
Bideltoid breadth
386
26.4
312
465
330
425
Agriculture for Sustainable Development 2(1):62-64, 2014/Article
Jha and Tiwari
Figure 1: Isometric view of anthropometer REFERENCES Agrawal, K. N., Singh, R. K. P and Satapathy. K. K. 2010. Anthropometric considerations for farm tools/machinery design for tribal workers of North Eastern India. Agricultural Engineering International: the CIGRE journal, 12(1):143- 150. Borah, R. and Kalita M. 2002. Extent of participation and postures adopted in performance of farm activity by women in Assam Rural India. Journal of Ergonomics, 65(1): 7-10. Chauhan, K.M, and Saha, N.P.2004. Acceptable limits of physiological workload for physically active women, as 11th article: 163-67. Chayal K. ,Dhaka L.2010. Analysis of Role Performance of Women in farm activities, Indian Research Journal of Extension Education. 10(2): 109-112. Corlett, E. N. and Bishop, R. P. 1976. A technique for assessing postural discomfort Ergonomics. 19(2): 175-182 Gite L. P. and Chatterjee, D. 2000. Action Plan of All India Anthropometric Survey Projects of Agricultural
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