Impact of physical, physiological and nutritional factors on the daily productivity of female tea pluckers in Jalpaiguri District, West Bengal
Sudipta Kundu, Oly Banerjee, Sidhhartha Singh, Alak Kumar Syamal, Sandip Mukherjee.
Aims: The purpose of this study was to see if there was any link between physical and physioolgical parameters, nutritional condition of the female tea pluckers and productivity in terms of plucked tea leaves per day in different tea estates of Jalpaiguri District, West Bengal, India
Results: Results of our study revealed that out of total female pluckers in our study, 92.27% female tea pluckers were anemic (Hb concentration below 12 gm/dL) and 54.07% female tea pluckers BMI (kg/m2) less than 18.5. Prevalence of moderate anemia was much higher in subjects with lower standard of living index. Female tea pluckers with lower hemoglobin concentration, lower physical and physiological parameters showed less productivity in terms of tea leaves plucked per day.
Methods: In this study total 293 female individuals including Two hundred and thirty three female tea pluckers between 18- 45 years of age and sixty control subjects who voluntarily participated were included. Various physical and physiological, socio demographic, health and diet variables were investigated. A variety of physiological and anthropometric characteristics, as well as hemoglobin concentration and productivity in terms of plucked tea leaves per day were also assessed.
Conclusion: Workers involved in tea plucking required a sufficient quality food in their daily diet. The nutritional level and health status of this community can be improved by raising the health awareness, providing nutritional assistance. Overall health status of these female tea pluckers are directly related to their earning (wages) from tea garden.