Mathematical model for design of gender friendly farm equipment

Abstract

Traditionally, the unit farm operations which require less muscle power is done by the women workers. The role of farm women are passive in majority of farm operations e.g. clod breaking, taking out weeds etc., assistance in sowing  e.g. dropping seeds or carrying seeds, weeding and interculture, harvesting, partly threshing as well as assistance in threshing, winnowing, cleaning-grading, carrying produce as well as grain. During last three decades, many research organizations in the country are working on assessment, refinement and development of gender friendly farm equipment. Based on various study conducted on gender perspective, a need was felt to work on algorithm, as algorithms design is a specific method to create a mathematical process in solving problems, for design and development of gender friendly farm equipment, particularly weeder. The slip angle should be avoided in designing single wheel hoe which may influence division of force. The models developed were successfully validated with measured values which confirms its acceptability in getting force data and design of weeder as anthropometric and strength data  for developing the gender friendly weeders.