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Awkward posture, repetitive movement and forceful exertions are the major cause of muscular skeletal disorder in the agricultural activities. Harvesting of rice with local available sickle is most common activities in Odisha. The work stress and physiological variance among the male and female agricultural workers of 10 agro-climatic zone of Odisha have been studied. The demographic information and responses were collected from the workers. It was also observed that injuries of finger cut are most common among workers during the harvesting season while harvesting with local sickles. Keeping this in view Sickles have been collected from the ten different agro-climatic zones of Odisha and its performance was evaluated. The weight of the sickle varied in the range of 62 gm to 349 gm. The size of the sickle observed to vary from one agro-climatic zone to other. The mean value of age, weight, body surface area, resting heart rate and resting oxygen consumption of male and female workers observed to be 32.3 and 31.1 years, 51.8 and 51.7 kg, 1.56 m and 1.42 m, 76.5 and 70.3 beats/min , 0.2 and 0.19 l/min for male and female agricultural workers respectively. The stature, vertical reach, hand length , palm length , hand breadth across thumb , hand breadth were measured for both male and female agricultural workers. The length of the sickle varies from 32 to 42.5 cm for the sickles, collected from different agricultural zone of Odisha. The sickles along with the improved sickle were evaluated ergonomically. The working heart rate during operation was observed to be in the range of 110 to 118 beats/min for male and 109 to 111 beats/min for female where as the working oxygen consumption rate was recorded in the range of 0.56 to 0.73l/min for male and 0.52 to 0.71 l/min for female agricultural workers while working with local sickles. The harvesting capacity of the local sickles varied on the range of 64 to 89 sq m / hour for male and 61 to 81 for female agricultural workers and with one with improved sickle it was recorded 60.2 to 66.5 sq m/h. But while comparing the heart rate and OCR data lowers physiological parameters were recorded with improved sickle against local sickles. The continuous working time observed to be 26 minutes against 36 minutes in case of improved sickle .However the workers preferred improved sickles over local sickles due to its better handle design, serrated cutting surface and lower weight. The local manufacturer / blacksmiths may be trained to produce such type of sickle for higher efficiency, minimizing accidents and reduction of drudgery.

Techno-Ergonomical Evaluation of Sickles for the Farmers of Odisha