Need of Mechanized Interventions in Selected Farm Operations in Finger Millet Cultivation in Tribal Hill Areas of Odisha

Abstract

Millet is one of the oldest human foods and is important food for sustaining tribal population in Koraput region of Odisha. The declining trends indicate the reduction in millet production in these regions as well. One of the main reasons for less popularity of finger millet is that they are labour intensive and require difficult post-harvest operations. In comparison to other major cereals, it requires high labour input mainly during transplanting, weeding, harvesting, threshing and grinding. For present study, two ragi producing tribal villages from hill tracts of Koraput district were selected randomly. Out of the selected villages, thirty women involved in ragi production were selected and interviewed for ascertaining the gender differentials in ragi cultivation and drudgery experiences. Experimental data was collected for 12 farm women in the age group of 30-45 years involved in ragi cultivation for five years. Need for technological and educational interventions is emphasised.