Role of Groundnut Decorticator in the Upliftment of Social and Economic Status of Rural Women in Nalanda district of Bihar
Role of Groundnut decorticator in women empowerment
Abstract
Four groups of forty women between the age of 30to 50yrs participated in Frontline Demonstration on manually operated groundnut decorticator (CIAE, Bhopal model) conducted by Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Nalanda. Groundnut being the vital kharif crop in the selected village Sarilchak of Nalanda district where the postharvest shelling is done exclusively by women with hand. It is a tedious and time taking job with shelling capacity of 1.2-1.4 kg/h which is considered as low performance. Whereas, hand-operated groundnut decorticator shelled an average of 32.4kg in one hour with 66.4% efficiency. Adoption of this technology showed an increase in productivity in terms of money by also selling deshelled kernels which helped in improving benefit-cost ratio. Other benefits were drudgery reduction and time-saving, which may be better utilized in performing other household or farm activities.