Impact of drudgery reduction tools on the working of farm women: A study under farmers FIRST programme in Mid Hills of Uttarakhand, India

Abstract

Farm women in the mid-hills of Uttarakhand play an indispensable role in sustaining agriculture, managing households, and preserving traditional knowledge systems. Their daily workload often exceeds 10-12 hours, involving crop cultivation, livestock care, forest resource collection, and post-harvest processing. Despite their significant contributions, they face persistent challenges, including limited access to modern agricultural technologies, gender disparities in resource ownership, and restricted decision-making power. This study, conducted under the ICAR-funded Farmer FIRST Project (FFP), surveyed 260 randomly selected beneficiaries from three villages in Bhimtal block, Nainital District. Data collection was done using a pre-tested structured interview schedule. The study revealed that most farm women work 12-16 hours daily, with 75% suffering from lower back pain due to prolonged labour. To address this, selected drudgery-reduction tools necessary for farming were provided to the project beneficiaries. Further, the results indicated significant reductions in working hours and physical strain. About 58.75% of women saved 3-5 hours per day, 23.75% saved over 5 hours, and 17.5% saved less than 3 hours. The additional time allowed them to focus on their well-being and spend quality time with family and friends. The study highlights the effectiveness of drudgery-reduction interventions in improving farm women's quality of life and emphasizes the need for broader adoption of such tools to empower rural women and enhance their socio-economic conditions.