Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 9.4 Hours worked on average
during the different seasons
Season
Working hours (mean)
Summer
10.55
Autumn
8.4
Winter
7.61
Spring
9.5
Working conditions are not regulated and there is almost no presence or
monitoring by the government. Instead, the duration of the working time and
hours are determined by the needs of the different crops (Table 9.4). Answers
recorded in the surveys regarding hours worked during the different seasons
show that significantly more are required in spring and summer compared
with other times of production.
The preparation of the soil is one of the most repetitive tasks of the
productive process. Fifty-nine percent of the work done by quinta owners
involves the use of a tractor and machinery, while other tasks require manual
control of weeds. In-depth interviews and photographic records showed
instances of soil-removal activities performed by contracted workers using
horse-drawn machinery. In larger quintas, 70 per cent of the manual tasks are
performed by contracted workers, either as employees or as medieros. Not
surprisingly, commonly reported problems associated with farming amongst
men in the health-care units included chronic problems associated with back,
leg, neck and arm pain.
Processes involving handling of chemical products
Intensive horticulture often requires agri-inputs such as fungicides, insecticides
and manure. Use of these products can cause a variety of health and
environmental risks if applied inappropriately. Often, mishandling is
associated with a lack of understanding of instructions such as application
interval charts for chemical products.
Spraying using a backpack comprised one common application method of
pesticides that was reported by 42 per cent of the respondents. Studies on the
use of backpacks for manual spraying of pesticides (Table 9.5) showed that
parts of the operator's body are exposed to a great deal of residue (Bulacio
Table 9.5 Method used to apply pesticides
Backpack sprayer (%)
Fumigation machine (%)
Both (%)
Neither (%)
42.5
27.3
28.8
1.4
