A Self Learning Multimedia CD As A Tool for Technology Popularization Among Women Farm Workers About Drudgery Reducing Improved Farm Tools And Implements

Women usually perform relatively more tedious tasks such as sowing, transplanting, weeding, intercultural, harvesting and threshing and primary processing of agro produce. This calls for attention about various women related farm mechanization issues to reduce drudgery and empower them to sustain transitions. In this context it is important to assess information needs of women farm workers and provide/establish enabling circumstances to help them adopt and implement such drudgery reduction practices. The paper discusses a self learning multimedia CD on thirty six drudgery reducing improved farm tools and implements and its immediate relevance in the Indian context. With this backdrop, Vigyan Prasar in collaboration with such R&D institutions as the Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Bhopal; Central Institute for Women in Agriculture, Bhubaneshwar; AICRP network on ergonomics and safety in agriculture etc designed important information, education and communication interventions in the form of self learning multimedia CD. This was in specific response to the felt need stated above; duly integrating expertise/insights in the stated institutions. This self learning multimedia CD will help improve preparedness of communities to comprehend technologies/practices that will may emerge and enable larger scale capacity building & dissemination to sustain action.