Drudgery Reducing Technologies and Changes in Life of Farm Women: A Sociological Analysis
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Date
2022-09
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CCSHAU
Abstract
The present study
entitled “Drudgery Reducing Technologies and Changes in Life of Farm Women: A Sociological
Analysis.” was carried out with the objectives to identify the drudgery reducing technologies, their
knowledge and adoption among farm women and as well as their impact on the life of farm women. The
study was carried out Haryana state in two districts Hisar and Mahandragarh with a sample size of 320
respondents. A well framed questionnaire and interview scheduled was followed to conduct the study.
The socio-economic profile of respondents indicated that an overwhelming majority was married, in age
group of 31-40 years, having small landholdings (2.6-5.0 Acres) and medium level of socio-economic
status. About half of the respondents in both the districts were having low level of mass media exposure.
A total 10 drudgery reducing farm technologies and 10 drudgery reducing household technologies were
identified for investigation. More number of respondents in Hisar district were having high overall
knowledge (61.3%) about drudgery reducing farm technologies as compared to Mahendergarh (25.0%).
Regarding household technology, more than half of the respondents (52.5%) were having moderate
overall knowledge about household technology. Women farmers in Hisar district were having high level
of extent of adoption (64.4%) of drudgery reducing farm technologies as compared to those in
Mahendergarh (25.0%). Majority of respondents (91.2%) in both the districts revealed that the
technologies helped them in reducing time and efforts. About two-third of the respondents from both
districts also reported that the technologies reduced muscular fatigue and pain and provided comfortable
working postures. Regarding overall impact of the drudgery reducing technologies, 37.8% women
reported high impact level of farm technologies followed by moderate (34.7%) and low (27.5%) while in
case household technologies, 37.5% women reported high impact followed by moderate (32.5%) and low
(30.0%). It was found various socio-economic variables were having significant association with
knowledge, adoption and impact of drudgery reducing technologies. Lack of freedom in decision
making, technologies in purview of men and financial constraints were the factors that worked as a
barrier in adoption of drudgery reducing technology. It was concluded that keeping in view the benefits
of drudgery reducing technologies to farm women there is need to enhance their knowledge with
training/intervention for more adoption of these technologies in future.