Hidden Strain: Physiological Costs of Traditional Farming Practices Among Rural Women

Mechanization in Indian agriculture is still limited, requiring intensive physical labour, particularly for rural women who balance farm work with daily household responsibilities. Women experience a high physiological workload as they perform labour-intensive activities with minimal support from labour-saving tools. This study employs physiological workload assessment—measuring physical load and fatigue through indicators like heart rate—to quantify the strain on Bodo tribal women engaging in traditional tasks. Key activities include water fetching, manual rice transplanting and seedling uprooting, which are strenuous and time-consuming. Limited access to ergonomic tools exacerbates the physical demands, making daily tasks more challenging and reducing the time available for higher-income pursuits. Findings from the study indicate that this lack of support hinders women’s ability to contribute more broadly to their economic well-being. Enhanced awareness and availability of ergonomic interventions could reduce physical strain and empower rural women, thereby supporting their broader participation in economic activities. The study underscores the need for rural development programmes focused on tool accessibility and ergonomic training to mitigate the physiological workload and improve quality of life for women in agriculture.