EVALUATION OF FALCON MAKE GARLIC PLANTER FOR ERGONOMICS IN GARLIC SOWING AGAINST TRADITIONAL METHO

Abstract

Garlic cultivation is an important and profitable business in India. However, the traditional method of planting garlic is labor-intensive and can result in musculoskeletal pain and discomfort for farmers. To reduce workload and increase productivity, a study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of a Falcon make garlic planter. Ergonomic costs were measured by recording heart rate, energy expenditure, and total cardiac cost of work. The study found that the ergonomic cost during garlic sowing was almost the same, but farmers reported moderate discomfort and exertion while using the garlic planter, while traditional sowing was rated as a heavy activity. The planter was evaluated against the traditional method for germination rate, where the average germination percentage after 10 days of sowing was 71.6% in conventional sowing and 89.8% in using the planter.The study concluded that mechanical interventions like the garlic planter can benefit small and medium-sized garlic farmers in India by reducing workload, drudgery, and musculoskeletal pain, as well as increasing productivity. The ergonomic evaluation of the Falcon make garlic planter was found to be almost the same as the traditional sowing method with moderate exertion. Farmers provided positive feedback on the machine's performance despite initial apprehensions. The study suggests that mechanized interventions in garlic cultivation practices can help promote sustainable agriculture by reducing the occupational health hazards faced by farmers while contributing to improved crop yield.