• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.76-91
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• 2017

Background: Agricultural work is physically demanding and is associated with a high frequency of musculoskeletal disorders. It is challenging to comprehensively understand the present status of work-related diseases and injuries among farmers in underdeveloped countries. Objects: This study aimed to elucidate the current status of work-related musculoskeletal disorders in local farmers in Tigray, Ethiopia, and identify the agricultural factors associated work-related musculoskeletal pain (AFWMP) and healthy living and healthy behavior factors associated work-related musculoskeletal pain (HFWMP). Methods: The Institute for Poverty Alleviation and International Development at Yonsei University conducted a survey of 126 households in Tigray, Ethiopia in 2014. A total of 116 individuals (73 men, 43 women) representing each household answered the questionnaires. Results: 1) Work-related musculoskeletal pain (WMSP) most commonly occurred when performing heavy lifting and most frequently occurred in the lower back. 2) Age, self-perceived labor intensity, and months of farming work were significantly higher in the pain group than those in the non-pain group. 3) Overall work-related musculoskeletal pain intensity (WPI) showed positive and negative correlations with years of farming experience and self-perceived health status, respectively. 4) In binary logistic regression, the occurrence of WMSP showed significant associations with self-perceived labor intensity. 5) On multiple linear regression analysis, age, months of farming work, and self-perceived health status had a significant impact on overall WPI. Conclusion: The WMSP of farmers in Tigray, Ethiopia was related to the characteristics of farm working and health status. Furthermore, HFWMP and AFWMP were the chief factors affecting the occurrence of WMSP in farmers in Tigray. Therefore, both HFWMP and AFWMP should be considered for clinical health assessments of farmers with WMSP in underdeveloped African countries.

• Agribusiness and Information Management
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.1-7
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• 2018

In the present day context of changing information needs of the farmers and diversified production systems there is an urgent need to look for the effective extension support system for the small and marginal farmers in the developing countries like India. The rapid developments in the collection and analysis of field data by using the spatial technologies like GPS&GIS were made available for the extension functionaries and clientele for the diversified information needs. This article describes the GIS and GPS based decision support system in precision agriculture for the resource poor farmers. Precision farming techniques are employed to increase yield, reduce production costs, and minimize negative impacts to the environment. The parameters those can affect the crop yields, anomalous factors and variations in management practices can be evaluated through this GPS and GIS based applications. The spatial visualisation capabilities of GIS technology interfaced with a relational database provide an effective method for analysing and displaying the impacts of Extension education and outreach projects for small and marginal farmers in precision agriculture. This approach mainly benefits from the emergence and convergence of several technologies, including the Global Positioning System (GPS), geographic information system (GIS), miniaturised computer components, automatic control, in-field and remote sensing, mobile computing, advanced information processing, and telecommunications. The PPP convergence of person (farmer), project (the operational field) and pixel (the digital images related to the field and the crop grown in the field) will better be addressed by this decision support model. So the convergence and emergence of such information will further pave the way for categorisation and grouping of the production systems for the better extension delivery. In a big country like India where the farmers and holdings are many in number and diversified categorically such grouping is inevitable and also economical. With this premise an attempt has been made to develop a precision farming model suitable for the developing countries like India.

• Journal of Agricultural Extension & Community Development
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.69-82
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• 2023

This study aims to examine the moderating effects of work hours between job stress and quality of life of young farmers. A survey was conducted on 618 young farmers for one month from July 1, 2022. The main analysis results are as follows. First, quality of life and job stress, quality of life and work hours had a negative correlation, and job stress and work hours had a positive correlation. Second, work hours were found to have a moderating effect on the relationship between job stress and quality of life. Third, as a result of identifying the area of significance of work hours, it was found that work hours played a role in moderating the relationship between quality of life and job stress when work hours were longer than 1.327 hours. Fourth, as a result of visualizing the moderating effect by dividing work hours into three groups: high, medium, and low, it was found that even if the level of job stress was the same, the farmers with long work hours perceived their quality of life to be worse than those with shorter work hours. It can be said that in order for young farmers to settle down and live stably in agriculture and rural areas as professionals, it is very important to actively develop and support policies to improve the working environment in the agricultural sector that can secure time to enjoy culture and leisure and relieve job stress.

• Asia Marketing Journal
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.29-47
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• 2013

Distribution channel decisions involve long-term commitments with other firms that are very difficult to change or replace. In particular, marketing channel decisions in emerging markets are much more complicated due to unfamiliar conditions and problems such as lack of market data and distribution systems. Therefore, when a company considers changing or introducing a marketing channel in an area, it is much more difficult to judge its effectiveness in an emerging market than in a developed market. In this study, we investigate the development process of a new direct marketing channel of Hongfu Fertilizer Company (hereafter Hongfu), a medium-sized Chinese fertilizer manufacturer, and propose an approach to test the feasibility of this new marketing channel in the Chinese rural market. We measure the effectiveness of Hongfu's new marketing channel from two perspectives: i) from customers' perspective through direct responses of farmers, which showed that a new channel can increase the convenience and lower the purchasing costs for the farmers, and ii) from the company's perspective, by calculating the incremental profit of the company using the expansion factor (T/Q) method, which suggested that the execution of Hongfu's strategy to expand a new marketing channel will result in an increase in profits. The results of this study contribute to the development of a methodology to test the feasibility of a new direct marketing channel in the emerging markets such as the Chinese rural market. Traditional and indirect distribution channels in emerging markets are generally not very efficient and difficult to change. Especially, in emerging markets, like the Chinese rural market, the methods of testing channel feasibility must be different from that of developed markets. Considering market situations, market experiments can be more effective then systematic market surveys in testing channel feasibility in emerging markets. This study implies that managers must learn to cope with a transition from the traditional marketing channels in emerging markets. With the development in farmers' understanding of marketing concept, the transition from traditional marketing channel is unavoidable for all firms. Farmers in China are generally very conservative, however, their buying behaviors are changing. Therefore, fertilizer companies should try to adjust in accordance with farmers' demand characteristics that the efforts to meet the economic needs of farmers with new marketing channels as well as trust building are critical in the near future.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.73-82
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• 2024

Objectives: The unsafe use of pesticides in agriculture represents a major hazard to human health. This study was conducted to investigate the association between pesticide exposure and health symptoms among chili farmers in northeast Thailand. Methods: This cross-sectional analytic study included 141 chili farmers in Sakon Nakhon Province, in northeast Thailand. Data regarding health symptoms were gathered using a self-report questionnaire. A medical technician tested blood cholinesterase activity using an erythrocyte method, and an occupational medicine specialist at Ramathibodi Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand reviewed the results. Associations between personal characteristics, pesticide exposure factors, and health symptoms were analyzed using multiple logistic regression. Results: Of the 141 chili farmers studied, 66.7% experienced pesticide poisoning, as indicated by below-normal cholinesterase levels. Fatigue was the most frequently reported symptom associated with pesticide exposure, affecting 37.6% of participants. This was followed by nausea and vomiting (31.9%), dizziness (14.9%), and dry throat (14.9%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that several factors were significantly associated with adverse symptoms: amount of work experience, volume of pesticides used, use of chemical pesticides, use of leaking containers during spraying, direct pesticide exposure while working, contact with pesticide-soaked clothing, consumption of food and drinks in the fields, and blood cholinesterase level indicating risk. Conclusions: This study suggests potential health risks for chili farmers stemming from exposure to and contamination by pesticides used in agricultural practices. To mitigate these risks, it is essential to supply personal protective equipment and to implement educational programs aimed at improving protective behaviors among farmers.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.39-45
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• 2008

We analyzed the effects of regular Jjimjilbang(Korean sauna) exposure on the physiological responses in seven elderly farmers(Male=3, Female=4). Jjimjil training group took a bath in Jjimjilbang 8 times twice a week. Jjimjibang exposure was limited three times per day. Rectal temperature, total sweat rate, body fat (%), blood pressure, pulse, $Na^+$ concentration in sweat, and subjective sensation were measured during Jjimjil training exposure. The results are as follow: During Jjimjil exposure, changes of rectal temperature in male farmers were more stabilized than female farmers. The gradual decrease in total sweat rate and Na+ concentration in sweat was observed in both sexes. After Jjimjil exposure, the decrease in blood pressure was observed in both sexes, but not observed changes according to regular Jjimjil exposure. Subjective thermal comfort sensation was changed positively. In conclusion, the regular Jjimjil exposure has positive effects upon improvement in regulation of body temperature, blood pressure, and $Na^+$ concentration especially in heat tolerance.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.13-33
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• 1999

The aim of this study was to investigate fatigue scores, physical complaints, farmer's syndrome and to find out its risk factors among farmers. The questionnaire survey was conducted to 177 vinyl house workers and 213 farmers who lived in Chongyang gun of Chungnam province from February 24 to March 15, 1998. The obtained main results were followings; 1. The fatigue scores were not significantly different between vinyl house workers and farmers. The fatigue scores were higher in female group, lower education group, shorter sleep hours group(under 8 hours), nonsmoker, nondrinker group than otherwise groups. There was not statistically significant difference between the mean fatigue scores and age, eating habit and body mass index. Duration of farming years in vinyl house and farming area and number of farming workers in farmers family showed a slight relationship with the fatigue score. 2. Health scores were not different between vinyl house workers and farmers. The health states was poorer in female group, lower education group, shorter sleep hours group(under 8 hours), nonsmoker group, and nondrinker group than otherwise groups by health scores. Health scores were not related with age, eating habit and body mass index. 3. The proportion of farmer's syndrome was 49.1% in vinyl house workers and 52.1% in farmers. That was higher in female than in male and the higher proportion was found in the lower education group of vinyl house workers and farmers. The proportion of farmer's syndrome was higher in the group of smoker, alcohol drinkers and over or under weight in vinyl house workers, but did not differ in those of farmers. 4. By multiple logistic regression, sex and sleep hours were risk factors affecting to farmer's syndrome. Odds ration for female group was 2.53 (reference group was male) and that for over 8 sleep hours group was 0.74 (reference group was under 8 sleep hours group). 5. The chief complaints by CMI were "I am difficult to work due to aching the back and the limbs", "I feel prickle pain in the limbs", "I sometimes have a twinge in the limbs", "I am not quite well as having a pain in the limbs", "I feel weaker grasping power than before" in both of vinyl house workers and farmers. Vinyl house workers more frequently pointed out skin darkening, skin disease and hemorrhoids than farmers. 6. According to correspondence analysis, skin disease of vinyl house workers was related to vinyl house farmers and digestive and general symptom was associated with male and endocrinological and muscular symptom was associated with female in vinyl house workers. And it revealed that farmer's syndrome was highly related with female and farmers relatively. By the above results, the fatigue scores, perceive health and farmer's syndrome did not much differ in two groups, but aged female farmers should be considered as female farmers represented higher fatigue score, farmers syndrome and poorer perceive health than male farmers in addition to farmer's syndrome was increased with ageing process. Also feeble but distinguished symptoms which might be due to working environment were observed especially in vinyl house workers and that should be considered and investigated continuously.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.5-13
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• 1994

To investigate the cause of Farmers' Syndrome, this study was done in some rural areas of Kyoungsangam Province, from July to August of 1993. 117 men and 112 women were completed interview, medical examination and laboratory examination. The results were as follows. 1. The prevalence of Farmers' Syndrome in women was 509 per 1,000 and it was significantly higher than that in men, 329 per 1,000(p=0.0026). Prevalence of age adjusted with rural population of Kyungsangnam Province of 1985 was 204 per 1,000 in men and 383 per 1,000 in women. The average age of subjects with Farmers' Syndrome, 58.9 was significantly higher than that of subjects without Farmers' Syndrome, 53.2(p<0.001). 2. The most frequent symptom was lumbago(27.7%), and the second was numb limbs(21.6%), and the third was shoulder stiffness(20.9%). Less than 10% of study subjects complained of breathlessness, sleeplessness, dizziness. Women complained of shoulder stiffness(p<0.001), lumbago(p<0.001), numb limbs(p<0.05), dizziness(p<0.001), abdominal fullness(p<0.001) significantly frequently than men. 3. Those aged 50 or more complained of shoulder stiffness(p<0.001), lumbago(p<0.01), numb limbs(p<0.001), nocturia(p<0.001), breathlessness(p<0.05), sleeplessness (p<0.05) and dizziness(p<0.05) significantly frequently than those aged less than 50. 4. By logistic regression, the risk factors significantly associated with Farmers' Syndrome were age(odds ratio(OR)=1.05, 95% confidence interval(CI) 1.02-1.07), sex(OR of 75,95% CI 0.58-0.97), and mental stress(OR=1.39, 95% CI 1.03-1.86). 5. By logistic regression, the risk factors significantly associated with each component symptom of Farmers' Syndrome were as follows. There were significant associations between sex(OR of male=0.51) with shoulder stiffness, age(OR=1.04) and mental stress(OR=1.72) with lumbago, age(OR=1.06), regular exercise(OR=0.35) and mental stress(OR=1.63) with numb limbs, age(OR=1.06) and abnormal LFT(OR=1.59) with nocturia, age(OR=1.08) with breathlessness, sex(OR of male=0.56) with dizziness respectively.

• Hwankyungkyoyuk
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.93-107
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• 2007

Livestock agriculture plays an essential role Hongsung's economy. Unfortunately, if manure is manage properly it can contaminate water and pollute the air. The purposes of this study were to provide awareness of environmental impact and to design educational programs with sustainable agriculture. I used the specific steps of processes. First, collecting informations through survey on environmental awareness of livestock farmers in Hongsung-gun and recognizing the tendencies. Second, analyzing on educational status of livestock farmers. Third, finding objectives of environmental educational programs. At the end of processes, establishing programs which concerning on environmental education. I used two research methods to gather and analyze the data for developing an environmental education program. The first one is a general survey among 50 livestock farmers from Hongseong-gun, Chungcheongnam-do. The second one is the in-depth interviews with specialists in environmental education and government officials from the central government - the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry - and the local government - Hongsung-gun who are in charge of livestock farming. I found the following results from this research. First, most livestock farmers replied with 'highly likely' to the five items on the recognition of the necessity of environment preservation, whereas only 38.7% answered with 'likely' to the item on the environmental pollution caused by livestock farming. This shows the tendency that they have less recognition of the reality than necessary. Second, most of the contents among 5 areas(knowledge, recognition, function, attitude, and participation) are the knowledge areas. That results are analyzed training materials for livestock farmers made by Hongsung-gun in 2004 and in 2005 by using goal categories suggested in the Tbilisi Resolution. Third, after analyzing the survey and in-depth interviews, I found that the need for education to recognize the environmental pollution, environmental protection and recycling of the livestock waste. We can summarize conclusions from this research. First, we need on educational program improve the livestock farmers' recognition of importance in environmental protection. Second, it is necessary to develop educational program with the viewpoint that livestock waste is not one of the culprits of the environmental pollution, but a recyclable resource. Third, contents of the environmental education program, should include all the educational elements, namely, knowledge, recognition, attitude, function and participation. The education for livestock farmers requires a research on the environmental education program that can be used with crop farmers who can use the resources recycled from the livestock waste from the viewpoint of recycling resources. This research is focused on the collection and analysis of the basic data for developing an environmental education program and the composition of the program. A further research on the implementation and assessment of this program is required.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.233-246
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• 2013

This study was performed to investigate the recognition of Korean farmers for the safety of environment-friendly organic materials (EFOMs). The main purchase line of environment-friendly organic materials was the sustainable agriculture organizations, and decisive basis for the materials purchase was because they thought that agricultural produce cultivated with EFOMs were safe. Currently farmers obtained the most information about EFOMs through farmer's education operated by agricultural technology center. Sixty nine percent of respondents hoped that they would get the information on the website and through official education opened by of the government or relative institutions. Whereas, only a few respondents hoped that they would get the information from the sellers. Therefore we thought that government and related institutions should operate the education program to give the sellers the scientific and accurate information about EFOMs. In addition, farmers are highly recognized the necessity of safety-related information provided by government and related institutions. Most Farmers thought that safety education for farmers using EFOMs was very important. Also, it was confirmed that farmer respondents thought to need to establish the shelf-life and user guideline and to label about toxic category of EFOMs. The Cronbach' alpha coefficient calculated in order to verify the reliability of survey questions was 0.699. That value indicates that responses of the respondents in this study might be reliable.