Constraints Faced by the Farm Women of Udaipur District in Adoption of Solar Cooker
Priyanka Bhati *
Department of Extension Education and Communication Management, CCS, SKRAU, Bikaner, 334001, Rajasthan, India.
Vishakha Bansal
Department of Extension Education and Communication Management, CCAS, MPUAT, Udaipur, 313001, Rajasthan, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: India has always been a victim of limited energy and the pollution created by the use of fossil fuels to conquer the problems of energy conservation; solar energy is the safest alternative to other cooking fuels. A solar cooker is a device that uses the thermal energy of the sun to cook food.
Objectives: The present study attempted to study the adoption of solar cookers by the farm women, which was distributed under the All India coordinated research project- Women in agriculture, Bhubaneshwar (Odissa) in Udaipur district, Rajasthan, India. Constraints are a component of the research study which has been discussed in this paper.
Methods: The present investigation was done in Udaipur district, Rajasthan. Out of 20 panchyat samiti of Udaipur one panchayat samiti i.e., Badgaon was selected purposively as this area was covering under Nutri Smart Village programme of AICRP on women in agriculture, MPUAT. Out of all panchayat samitis of Udaipur district, Badgown was selected purposively as this area was covered under Nutri Smart Village programme of AICRP on women in agriculture, MPUAT. From the selected panchayat samiti all five NSV adopted were selected purposively. The total sample size of the study was 100 farm women (20 from each village). The researcher employed the personal interview technique to get the necessary data.
Results and Discussion: The results revealed that constraints faced by the respondents was personal constraint (53.83%), operational constraint (53.37%), and financial constraint (6.75%), some other constraints were also found out during the investigation i.e., animal attack (15%), over -cooked food (25%), insufficient amount of sunlight in house (18%), and lack of interest (37%). The findings clearly indicate that farm women require more frequent and well-structured training programs to understand the operational aspects and benefits of solar cookers. Awareness campaigns and regular extension activities are essential to educate them about the health hazards associated with conventional cooking fuels, including respiratory problems and environmental degradation.
Conclusion: To encourage the respondents to adopt solar cookers in future by overcoming the constraints faced by the respondents. Community-based approaches, such as involving self-help groups (SHGs) and local leaders, can further enhance acceptance and diffusion of the technology. With sustained efforts in training, awareness, and support systems, a positive change in the attitude of farm women can be achieved, leading to increased adoption of solar cookers and contributing to a safer, healthier, and more sustainable future.
Keywords: Solar cooker, farm women, fossil fuels, indoor pollution