NEED ASSESSMENT OF COTTON GROWING FARM WOMEN IN SOUTHERN TAMIL NADU

Abstract

Today rural women are majorly involved in agriculture practices. Cotton being one of the major crops in agriculture production systems, women also work in various activities from pre sowing till harvesting of cotton crop. The present study was conducted in three southern districts in Tamil Nadu namely Madurai, Trichy and Viruthunagar. Seventy one cotton growing farm women were selected for the study. Total of 176.5 acres of cotton production was done in the respondents’ field. The mean age of the respondents was 42 years of age. Eighty per cent of the farm women were literate and majority of the farm women were small farm land holders. All the farm women were under economic weaker section group. Sowing, thinning and gap filling, weeding and harvesting were the major activities performed fully by farm women. Sickle and hand hoe were the only tools used to remove weeds in cotton crop. Leg, hand and back were the major areas affected by musculoskeletal discomfort. The study revealed that farm women need women friendly farm tools for harvesting and weeding operation in cotton crop. The increase in productivity of farm women depends on the comfort of farm women while at work.