Analysis of Drudgery Load Faced by Farm Women in Cotton Production System

Cotton, commonly known as “White Gold” is one of the most important fibre crops and plays a key role in the economic and social affairs of the world. India ranks number one in the world accounting for twenty percent of the total area (119.78 lakh hectares). The conventional method of harvesting i.e. hand picking of cotton is a drudgery prone activity and causes occupational hazards like finger injuries. Hundred percent of sample were involved in weeding and harvesting activities of cotton production system. The drudgery load in this production system was characterized for finding suitable solutions to minimize the same. Both weeding and harvesting activities were characterized by six factors: physical load, postural drudgery, repetitive strain, physiological load, duration and muskulo-skeletol disorders (MSD). In weeding activity, repetitive strain, physiological load and muskolu-skeleton disorders contributed more towards drudgery of farm women and in case of picking of cotton activity, physical load, postural stress and time were contributed more.