Gender issues for drudgery reduction and sustainable small holder farming in rice production system

Gender is one of the most important factors often ignored in agriculture sector. Women have been involved in agriculture related activities from time immemorial. However, little significance is given about their contribution in agriculture and other ancillary industries. Agriculture has been the joint venture of male and female members of the family. The role played by female members including girl children has, however been enormous but underscored. The women share goes as high as 40% to overall crop production besides the absolute responsibility of her home and animals. They participate in almost all activities of crop production and animal rearing. The objective of the study was to conduct the survey for quantitative assessment of the components of transplanting which revealed that on an average a woman planted 1350 hills per hour and bent 10.50 times per hour for about 6 minutes each time while performing transplanting operation. The side movement toward left and right side each was estimated to be 76.25 cm distance at each step. The total area covered per women per hour was estimated to be 42.5 m². Therefore, the issues mainly involved were the duration of the operation, unnatural body actions and unfavorable environment. Thus, the need was felt for intervention of improved implements like drum seeder, transplanter, etc. for different body postures according to ergonomic parameters of women.