International Journal of Agriculture Extension and Social Development

author(s)
Gayatri Moharana, Dr. Sharanbir Kaur Bal and Dr. Preeti Sharma

abstract
Turmeric is one of the most important spice predominantly used in the every households. This is also known as haldi or golden spice. It is the main ingredient in Indian cuisine and used for flavouring. It also has high medicinal values. In Punjab, it has been observed that turmeric is being cultivated by farmers as an inter crop. Women play a major role in different activities which are being done manually. This involves lots of time and physical effort by the women workers. Keeping this view a research was conducted to study the existing practices and extent of involvement of women workers in harvest and post-harvest activities of turmeric crop and to identify the occupational health problems of women workers in harvest and post-harvest activities of turmeric cultivation in Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar and Ludhiana districts of Punjab. Data were collected through primary sources while performing harvesting and post-harvest activities of turmeric crop. Results revealed that all of the women workers (100.00%) participated in harvesting, separating finger rhizome from mother rhizome, drying, cleaning, grading & sorting, packaging (packing and sealing) and storage activities. Most of the tasks were seasonal and take lots of time and physical effort responsible for drudgery and health hazards. In almost all the activities body parts such as upper arm, lower arm, palm, fingers, shoulder, neck, head, upper and lower back were used repeatedly and forcefully. The effects of repeated and forceful activities create negative impact on body parts and gradually develop musculoskeletal problems and related injuries. it was found that women workers complained discomfort in lower arm which got maximum mean score with score 4.27 followed by upper arm (4.13), lower arm (4.08), right hand (4.01), shoulder joint (3.87) and upper back (3.81) Lesser pain was perceived in knees (3.68), legs (3.51), ankle (3.46). It is very much important to address various occupational health problems of women workers involved in turmeric cultivation activities. This study suggested for further suitable ergonomic interventions of women friendly technologies and personal protective equipments to reduce occupational health problems of women workers in Punjab.