Assessment of Maize Cobs Sheller for Drudgery Reduction- A Case Study of Barnala District of Punjab

The present investigation on assessment of two maize cob shellers (Tubular maize sheller and Rotatory maize sheller) was done on 30 randomly selected farm women who were physically fit and actively engaged in farm operations of Barnala district of Punjab state. Complete data was collected with the help of interview cum observation schedule. Information containing socio- economic profile, ergonomic parameters like: physiological cost of work, percentage change in grip strength, musculoskeletal pain and the time taken to remove grain from corn. Findings revealed that majority of respondents were between age group of 25-35 years, illiterate belonging to nuclear family and having monthly income upto Rs. 20000. Maize shelling is moderately heavy work when done manually but light work if done through maize sheller (Both types). AWHR was 122 beats/min for manual shelling, 120 beats/min. for tubular maize sheller and 111 beats/ min in case of shelling done by rotatory maize Sheller (CIPHET). Physiological cost of work for manual maize shelling was 42 beats/ min, 40 beats / min. for tubular maize shelling and 33 beats/min. for rotatory maize sheller along with 12 KJ/min, 11.5 KJ/min. and 8 KJ/min of energy expenditure receptively for three methods of shelling. Percent change in grip strength was observed in three the cases but in manual shelling it was very higher. Moderate to severe pain is reported in wrist and fingers in manual shelling while very light to light pain was reported in wrist and no pain in fingers observed when shelling was done by rotatory maize sheller. In one hour 7.56 kg grain was removed by rotatory maize sheller whereas 2.37 kg shelling was done by tubular method and only 1.2 kg grain was removed in one hour by manual shelling.