Title of article :
Musculoskeletal Disorders, Energy Use, and Costs of Human Labor for Paddy Cultivation in Northern Iran
Author/Authors :
Nikkhah, Amin Young Researchers and Elite Club - Rasht Branch , Islamic Azad University , Kougir-Chegini, Zeynab Department of Biosystems Engineering - Ferdowsi University of Mashhad , Kosari-Moghadam, Armaghan Department of Agricultural Machinery Engineering - Faculty of Agriculture - University of Tabriz , Nikkhah, Farima Department of Management - Payame Noor University , Rasht
Abstract :
In this study, musculoskeletal disorders, energy consumption
and input costs of paddy labors have been studied in
cultivation, crop protection, and harvesting rice in Northern
Iran, Guilan province. The sample size of the study consisted
of 74 paddy workers of the study region. The data were
collected through Nordic questionnaire and semi-structured
interviews. The results indicated that the labor input energy of
cultivation, crop protection, and harvesting were 674.6, 356.8
and 205.9 MJha-1, respectively. The total labor input costs
were determined to be 22,860,000 IRRs ha-1. Lower back,
back and knees were the most common areas where paddy
workers were feeling pain. There were significant differences
among the age, working hours and working years of healthy
and relatively healthy poor paddy workers (p<0.01). One-fifth
of the selected farmers self-reported that their health was at a
very poor level. Overall, considering the relatively high costs
and the different types of common musculoskeletal disorders
related to rice cultivation in this province and also the side
effects of using the painkillers in the working season, it is recommended
to invest and accelerate the process of mechanization
of rice farming in Guilan Province of Iran.
Keywords :
energy , ergonomics , human labor , paddy workers , Rice
Journal title :
Astroparticle Physics
