Sustainable agriculture and rural women: crop production and accompanied health hazards on women farmers in six rural communities in Edo State Nigeria
Egharevba, R.K.; Iweze, F.A.
Journal of Sustainable Agriculture 24(1): 39-51
2004
DOI: 10.1300/j064v24n01_05Document Number: 264408
The farming activities of women in six rural communities of three local government council areas were investigated. These included land preparation, planting, crop management practises, harvesting, processing and marketing. The results revealed that health problems experienced by women included muscular fatigues, fever, dermatitis, migraines, respiratory diseases, impaired vision and hearing as a result of exposure to extreme temperature, use of chemicals, fertilizers, dusts and insect bites. It is advocated that agricultural policies in developing countries should focus on health hazards of rural women so that ergonomic measures could be taken if crop production through female participation is to be enhanced.