Socio-personal Profile of APMC Women Involved in Post-harvest Activities of Dry Chilli and their Constraints – A Comparative Study

A comparative study to know the socio-personal profi le, constraints and health problems of APMC women involved in post-harvest activities of dry chilli was undertaken during 2019-2020 in Byadgi APMC of Karnataka and Guntur APMC of Andhra Pradesh with a sample of 120 women labourers. The results showed that, 63.33 per cent of Byadgi AMPC and 70.00 per cent of Guntur APMC respondents belonged to middle aged (36- 50) category. More than half (53.33 %) of Byadgi APMC and 63.33 per cent of Guntur APMC women labourers were illiterates. Most of Byadgi APMC (70.00%) and Guntur APMC (86.67%) women labourers belonged to small family size. The family income was medium for 73.33 per cent of Byadgi APMC and 60.00 per cent for Guntur APMC women labourers. More than half (53.33%) of Byadgi APMC and (26.67%) of Guntur APMC respondents belonged to backward castes. Remaining belonged to SC/ST and forward castes. They had low extension, organizational and mass media participation. Social participation was medium. The women labourers faced many constraints while performing post-harvest activities at APMC as APMC is far away to reach by 93.33 per cent of Byadgi APMC and 90.00 per cent Guntur APMC women labourers. Similarly 93.33 per cent of Byadgi APMC and 76.66 per cent of Guntur APMC respondents said less wages as a constraint. More than 70.00 per cent told high cost of transportation to reach APMC as a constraint. More than 70.00 percent of respondents said joint pain, whole body ache, hand pain and back ache followed by 65.00 percent told eye burning were the health problems faced by them while performing post-harvest activities of dry chilli in the APMCs.