Hazards among tigernut (Cyprus eculentus) farmers in Aduamoa in the Kwahu south district, Eastern region, Ghana

Tigernut production in Ghana is associated with high levels of manual labour and little use of machinery. Men and women in tigernut farming play a significant role in the various farm tasks associated with tigernut (Cyperus esculentus) production in the Eastern Region of Ghana. A survey of 100 tigernut farmers (50 male and 50 female) in Aduamoa in the Eastern Region of Ghana was carried out to ascertain the leading occupational hazards and injuries faced by the tigernut farmers during preplanting and planting, post-planting, harvesting and post-harvest operations.

Obeng-Koranteng, G.; Folitse, B. Y.; Dzandu, L. P.

2014

English

Tigernut production in Ghana is associated with high levels of manual labour and little use of machinery. Men and women in tigernut farming play a significant role in the various farm tasks associated with tigernut (Cyperus esculentus) production in the Eastern Region of Ghana. A survey of 100 tigernut farmers (50 male and 50 female) in Aduamoa in the Eastern Region of Ghana was carried out to ascertain the leading occupational hazards and injuries faced by the tigernut farmers during pre-planting and planting, post-planting, harvesting and post-harvest operations. The major hazards /injuries respondents encountered during pre-planting operations were cutlass injury, stump injury, bee/wasp sting, general body pains and snake bite. Again, majority of the male tigernut farmers encountered eye irritation and respiratory problems than the female tigernut farmers. Harvesting operations recorded body pains, objects on eyes, harvesting tool injury, and snake bite and hoe injury as the major hazards/injuries whereas post-harvest operations also recorded waist pains, injury on fingers nails, cutlass injury and general body pains. It was recommended that tigernut farmers should be educated on precautionary measures and first aid operations at the farm level. Also, the Council for Scientific and Industrial research (CSIR) should assist farmers to replace their tigernut with other varieties that are resistant to diseases so as to reduce the incidence of chemical usage during post planting operation.