Circulo - Respiratory Efficiency Of Agricultural Workers In Odisha India

Abstract The cardio respiratory performance of male and female subjects was studied in relation to manual types of agricultural work in Odisha. Operations like land preparation with spade manual transplanting and seeding methods weeding harvesting with local sickle and reaper were evaluated. The working heart rate and oxygen consumption rate recorded 136.3 beatsmin 0.98 l min-1 for male and 138.4 0.92 l min-1 in spading operation. Manual random transplanting required working heart rate of 118.6 beatsmin and 114.7 beatsmin for male and female workers and higher heart rate of 128.7 beatsmin 133.7 beatsmin was recorded in 2 row and 4 row paddy transplanter operated by male workers and it was 130.4 beatsmin 26 134.8 beatsmin in 2 row and 4 row paddy transplanter for female workers. The 2 row and 4 row transplanter required 9.3 and 20.3 man day ha for male and female workers respectively. Weeding in squatting posture required less working heart rate and oxygen consumption rate of 98.3 beatsmin 0.45 l min-1 for male and 100.2 beatsmin 0.4 l min-1 for female workers. Four row pre germinated paddy seeder required the working heart rate oxygen consumption rate and relative cost of work load of 126.4 beatsmin 0.80 l min-1 and 41 per cent against 140.2 beatsmin 1.08 l min-1 and 55.4 percent in case of 8 row paddy seeder operated by male workers. The female workers could not operate the 6 and 8 row pre germinated paddy seeders due to higher pulling force in puddled field. Operation of local available sickle in squatting posture required. 23.2 and 33.3 percent lower energy expenditure rate against paddy reaper for both male and female workers. Pedal thresher was about 70per cent more efficient than manual threshing. The working heart rate oxygen consumption rate required in pedal thresher was 126.5 beatsmin 0.79 min-1 for male and 124.3 beatsmin 0.68 l min-1 for female workers. The relative cost of workload of pedal thresher was 23.9 and 18.5 percent lower than that of manual threshing by male and female workers. Proper training and modification of existing tools and equipments will reduce drudgery and fatigue of workers.