Dr. SN Jha Urges Prioritization of Ergonomic Design and Safety Devices in Agricultural Machinery

The XV Annual Workshop of the All India Coordinated Research Project on Ergonomics and Safety in Agriculture organized virtually from March 20th to 21st, 2024, hosted by ICAR-Central Institute of Agriculture Engineering, Bhopal. Dr. S. N. Jha, Deputy Director General (Engg), emphasized the importance of enhancing the ergonomic design of machinery and safety devices in agricultural sectors, particularly in ensuring women-friendly tools.

Dr. S. N. Jha, Deputy Director General (Engg), served as the Chief Guest and stressed the importance of comfort index and establishing criteria for categorizing tools as women-friendly. He urged for increased research efforts towards enhancing the ergonomic design of machinery and safety devices in agricultural sectors. Dr. Jha proposed a national awareness campaign through mass media to educate about the risks associated with unsafe tractor-trailers, aiming to prevent accidents.

Acknowledging the progress made by all centers, Dr. K. P. Singh, Assistant Director General (Farm Engineering) ICAR, emphasized the need for comprehensive reviews to assess research gaps, industry requirements, and farmers’ needs when selecting studies. He highlighted the importance of societal impact in developing interventions or technologies.

Dr. C. R. Mehta, Director, ICAR-CIAE, Bhopal, emphasized the significance of collaborating with the industry to create ergonomic interventions for labor-intensive farm tasks.

Dr. Sukhbir Singh, Project Coordinator, AICRP on ESA, provided insights into the project's history and highlighted its achievements.

The event was graced by Dr. L.P. Gite, Ex-Scientist Emeritus and Former PC, AICRP on ESA, ICAR-CIAE, Bhopal, and Dr. P.K. Nag, Former Director, NIOH, Ahmadabad.

Throughout the two-day workshop, various technical, business, and plenary sessions were held. Notably, five technologies were commercialized, and cooperating centers of AICRP on ESA filed two patents and seven design registrations during the program.

The workshop concluded with a renewed commitment to advancing ergonomic practices and safety measures in agriculture, with a particular emphasis on developing tools and technologies that cater to the needs of women in the field.