Sitting type groundnut decorticator for reducing the drudgery of farm women

The study aimed at reducing the drudgery of farm women by introducing sitting type ground nut decorticator for breaking ground nut pods. The decorticator was introduced to 30 farm women in three villages (10 from each village) of Jhansi district of Bundelkhand, Uttar Pradesh. The sitting type groundnut decorticator was more efficient in shelling than the local practices (beating pods with hands and teeth). The efficiency of shelling increased to 95 from 92% and capacity increased from 1 kg to 30 kg hour-¹. It also reduced the health hazards like finger pain, hand pain, backache, tooth pain and cuts in mouth in majority of the respondents. Majority of the farm women (66.67%) perceived it as a feasible technology. Training on use of sitting type groundnut decorticator resulted in significant gain in knowledge and skills of farm women.