ERGONOMIC EVALUATION OF MAIZE SEED SOWING METHOD IN SMALL HOLDINGS AND ITS IMPACT ON MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS BY USING DIGITAL HUMAN MODEL AND VIRTUAL ERGONOMICS TECHNIQUES

VIJAY KAMATE¹*, S. MOHAN KUMAR^2
1Department of Mechanical Engineering, SDM College of Engineering and Technology, Dharwad, Karnataka, 580002, India
²Department of Mechanical Engineering, Malnad College of Engineering, Hassan, Karnataka, 573202, India
* Corresponding Author : vijay.kamate@gmail.com

Received : 18-01-2018     Accepted : 26-01-2018     Published : 30-01-2018
Volume : 10     Issue : 2       Pages : 5056 - 5060
Int J Agr Sci 10.2 (2018):5056-5060

Keywords : Maize, Sowing, Ergonomics, Digital Human Modeling (DHM), Virtual Ergonomics (VE), Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs), RULA
Academic Editor : Dr K.N. Patil, Dr G.M. Gadad
Conflict of Interest : None declared
Acknowledgements/Funding : Author are thankful to SDM College of Engineering and Technology, Dharwad, Karnataka, 580002, Visveswaraiah Technological University, Belgaum, 590018, Karnataka India
Author Contribution : All author equally contributed

Role of ergonomics for sustainable development has become a hot subject in agriculture. To have higher agricultural yield it is essential to study not only basic requirements of agriculture but also human factors in design and in working environment. In this context, an effort has been done to study farmer’s postures who involve in growing maize in the traditional farming methods in their small holdings. In addition to scientific discipline, occupation theory, related principles, and novel method to design the sowing equipment in order to optimize human ergonomics, working efficiency and health has been investigated. Hence this present work is undertaken to study maize seed sowing posture of a farmer and ergonomics analysis in sowing process. In this present work, modern CAD techniques like digital human modeling (DHM) and virtual ergonomics (VE) were used to analyze the situation. It is concluded that newly designed proposed sowing equipment for farmers improves the working efficiency with reduced work related injuries.

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