Importance of assistive technologies and programmes for economic empowerment of disabled farmers-a review

Farmer is a person engaged in works combining of raising field crops, plantation, vineyards or livestock. As per Registrar General of India and Census Report 2011 the total population of farmers or cultivators is 118.7 million and of agricultural workers/labourers is 144.3 million which consists of 31.55 per cent of the total rural population. Farming is one such occupation where a lot of occupational hazards are involved. Several physical, physiological and mental disabilities are caused unknowingly due to the activities involved in farming. There are about 26810557 disabled people as per 2011 Census in India but it is important to note that the data related to disabled farming community are not available. Most of the disabled people are part of rural areas and are generally ignored. Opportunities for participation in education, occupational, social and community activities are not encouraged for the disabled. Due to this their economic status, mainly their economic status is not good. Disabled farmers are one such group which has to be considered and provided with some assistive technologies and programmes in order to help them carry on their occupations similar to the normal people, earn money and become economically empowered.