*Corresponding author email: anu.6sag@gmail.

com





ANTHROPOMETRY OF FEMALE AGRICULTURAL WORKERS JABALPUR

ANAMIKA JHA
*
AND K. B. TIWARI


College of Agricultural Engineering , JNKVV Jabalpur (MP)- 482 004, India

Received: 15.04.2014 Revised accepted: 17.05.2014
ABSTRACT

An anthropometric survey of Indian farm workers was conducted from the Jabalpur region of Madhya
Pradesh in order to obtain information on the body dimensions, which may be used in ergonomic design
of farm equipments and hand tools. The samples which include females involved in different
agricultural activities randomly selected from the Jabalpur district. Twenty seven (27) structural body
dimensions necessary for the design of farm equipments/machineries were identified and the survey was
conducted on 100 female farm workers within the age limit of 20 to 45 years. The data obtained from
the measurements were statistically analyzed and compared with those obtained from male agricultural
workers in Madhya Pradesh. Results revealed that the mean stature of female farm workers was 1511
58.67mm. Based on these findings, it indicates concern of proper designing of agricultural machines and
tools for better comfort and safety of female farm workers.

Keywords:
Anthropometry,
Body dimensions,
farm equipment,
Agricultural workers


INTRODUCTION
India largely depends on agriculture which is derived
from the labour and workout comes of highly dedicated farm
workers. Of these farm workers 74% are female worker who
although being the centre of which household, family and
society runs, work in agricultural fields for produce to feed
the country. The large participation of women in agriculture
has not been highlighted unfortunately and thus, they have
remained as invisible workers but most dependable
ones.Among major farm activities, the participation of farm
women is maximum in cutting, picking, drying, cleaning of
grains, storage, processing (100% participation), 9095%
participation in grading and winnowing, 89.5% in shifting
produce from field to threshing floors, 85% in cleaning of
field, 6070% in thinning, weeding and threshing.Studies
have revealed that these farm activities have some major
irrevocable effects on human body. Belt engagement and
feeding of crop have attributed to major thresher injuries.
Crop management practices such as weeding,
cutting/uprooting, picking/doffing, transplanting, removing
of stalks and stubbles have been found to be maximum
drudgery involved agricultural activities which are being
performed by 70-100% of women agricultural workers.
Anthropometry being the measurement and study of
various physical traits like size, mobility and strength is the
best tool to be applied for design of equipment, workplace
and clothing to enhance the system efficiency safety and
comfort of farm worker. Thus to fulfill the objective of
availability of anthropometric data to manufacturers of
agricultural machineries and tools, this study was conducted.
This study with the data obtained will help to increase output
and safety because the man-machine interface is a major
factor in performance of the machinery, equipment or hand
tool.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
The study was carried out in Jabalpur district of
Madhya Pradesh state. At first, an anthropometry was
developed and fabricated to measure the body dimensions in
X, Y and Z directions.The anthropometry consisted of 2000
mm steel scale to measure different body dimensions of
worker in Y direction. This scale was fixed on a vertical
slotted iron bar of length 2000 mm, width 65 mm and
thickness 25 mm made of angle iron (25 25 mm and
thickness 25 mm). To use scale in both horizontal and vertical
positions, a provision was given so that the scale can be
rotated on the bearing by 360 and a locking system was given
to fix it in horizontal or vertical direction. To measure the
dimensions in Z direction, two pointers of stainless steel
scale (180 mm) was attached to the vertical scale such that it
can be sided throughout its length. A platform made up of
wooden plank of size 480 480 30 mm supported by a
frame of angle iron (30 30 mm and thickness 3 mm) was
provided for the object to stand or sit on the chair for
measurement of body dimensions.
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Agriculture for Sustainable Development 2(1):62-64, 2014/Article ISSN 2347-5358 (Print)/ 2349-2228 (Online)



Agriculture for Sustainable Development 2(1):62-64, 2014/Article Jha and Tiwari

The constructed anthropometry was taken to the seed
processing plant of J.N.K.V.V for survey and collection of
data. The population for study comprised of female workers
of Jabalpur district of Madhya Pradesh state who perform the
field and machinery work. Farm women were selected by the
method of Simple Random Sampling without Replacement
for collection and survey of anthropometric dimensions. A
sample of 100 women out of 500 farm workers was selected
for the study. The selected women were in the age group of
25 to 45 years. This age group was selected for the study
because according to Reinberg et al. (1970) the peak of
muscle strength for both men and women is reached between
the ages of 25 to 35 years old. Older workers between 50 and
60 years can produce only about 75 to 80 per cent of muscular
strength compared to their younger days. The anthropometric
data were collected keeping in view that they were free from
any physical abnormalities and were in sound health.
Fifteen (15) anthropometric dimensions of the farm
workers in various standing postures were recorded by asking
the worker to stand on the platform of the anthropometry. For
collection of (12) anthropometric data of workers in various
sitting postures, a height adjustable stool was kept on the
platform and subject was asked to sit straight on it for
measurements. The data obtained from the survey work were
analyzed for mean, standard deviation, 5
th
and 95
th
percentile
values of the population for effective designing of workplace
payouts and controls.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
All the anthropometric data that was collected using
anthropometry, of female agricultural workers of Jabalpur
region were compiled and is presented in Table-1.
95
th
percentile values of stature of female agricultural
workers of Jabalpur were 1618 mm which suggested that the
height of any workplace or its entry/exit should be minimize
of 1618 mm for women workers. Machineries or tools used
by women for weeding, thinning or threshing should be
designed by considering 5
th
percentile value as it acts as
restrictive factor. Already surveyed and anthropometric data
collected for male agricultural workers of Madhya Pradesh
were studies to find the comparison between the
anthropometric dimensions of male and female workers and
it showed that most of the vertical dimensions of female were
89-91% to that of male workers.

CONCLUSION
This survey of 27 anthropometric data can be used for
designing or modifying agricultural machines for safety and
comfort of female agricultural workers.
The mean weight and stature (SD) of female
workers of Jabalpur region was 53.7 8.06 kg and 1511
58.67mm respectively. The 5
th
and 95
th
percentile value of
Acromial height, inter elbow span, hip breadth, knee height,
trochanteric height, grip diameter, arm reach to front wall are
some crucial data to be considered while designing machines
and tools to be used by female population of agricultural
workers.
Table 1 Percentile values of different body dimensions of
female workers

Parameters Mean SD Min Max
Percentile
values
5
th
95
th
Weight kg 53.70 8.06 37.00 82.00 40.00 66.00
Stature 1511 56.87 1310 1650 1420 1618
Standing eye height 1388 56.88 1200 1520 1300 1509
Acromial height 1290 52.36 1080 1360 1150 1340
Standing elbow
height
929 52.21 803 1045 850 1020
Interelbow span 784.61 43.91 691.2 865 700 854
Hip breadth 306.82 62.95 240 560 242 430
Elbow functional
reach
419.64 33.80 320 482 340 467
Crotch height 674.71 47.01 560 804 600 769
Trochanteric height 721 42.00 563 887 650 792
Arm reach from wall 731 34.00 570 850 673 792
Biacromial breadth 285 18.30 252 310 262 301
Chest circumference 825 74.60 650 1000 720 908.5
Waist circumference 768 52.00 624 915 650 864
Grip diameter 49.5 5 34 60 42 58
Sitting height 703.97 43.64 500 812 642 798
Sitting eye height 612.76 37.94 530 745 550 681
Sitting shoulder
height
469.04 42.54 325 587 377 524
Sitting elbow height 204 21.70 164 265 176 242
Thigh clearance
height
121.5 13.50 87.5 155 99.87 150
Popliteal height 374.4 23.4 260 412 335 402.5
Forward reach 638 44.00 510 725 550 717
Vertical functional
grip reach
947 41.67 850 1100 875 1025
Knee height 468 27.17 337 520 427 510
Buttock-popliteal
length
465 28.00 420 540 425 525
Buttock-knee length 540 32.12 425 610 455 580
Bideltoid breadth 386 26.4 312 465 330 425


Agriculture for Sustainable Development 2(1):62-64, 2014/Article Jha and Tiwari






Figure 1: Isometric view of anthropometer

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