The 16th Workshop of AICRP on Ergonomics and Safety in Agriculture and Allied Sector Organized

4^th – 5^th March 2025, Arunachal Pradesh

The XVI Annual Workshop of the All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on Ergonomics and Safety in Agriculture and Allied Sector (ESAAS) was organized at NERIST, Nirjuli, Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh, on March 04-05, 2025.

Shri Gabriel D. Wangsu, Minister for Agriculture, Horticulture, Animal Husbandry & Veterinary, Dairy Development, and Fisheries, Government of Arunachal Pradesh, graced the event as the Chief Guest, lauded AICRP on ESAAS and NERIST for innovations like safety gadgets and ergonomic tools, emphasizing their role in reducing occupational hazards and promoting farmer safety. He urged continued research-driven advancements to enhance agricultural productivity in Arunachal Pradesh.

The Guest of Honor, Prof. Narendranath S, Director, NERIST, Nirjuli, emphasized the Institute's dedication to advancing productive, safe, and inclusive agricultural practices. He highlighted the role of agriculture in livelihoods and its occupational hazards, stressing the importance of ergonomic interventions and gender-inclusive tools developed by AICRP on ESAAS to empower farmers. He urged collaboration with premier Institutes to ensure safer farming practices.

The inaugural session was chaired by Dr S. N. Jha, Deputy Director General (Agril. Engineering), ICAR, Co-Chaired by Dr K. P. Singh, Assistant Director General (Farm Engineering), and Dr C. R. Mehta, Director, ICAR-CIAE, Bhopal.

Dr Jha spoke about ICAR's focus on safety and ergonomics in agricultural mechanization. He advocated for better absorption of agricultural engineering graduates in various state government departments like soil conservation, mechanization, and crop processing, particularly in the NEH region, and urged improving infrastructure at NERIST for agricultural engineering research and education. 

Dr Singh highlighted the importance of technology and ergonomic research for sustainable and safe agricultural practices. He emphasized labor challenges, the growing role of women in agriculture, and the need for safety standards and ergonomic interventions.

Dr Mehta, discussed AI, robotics, sensors, and data-driven analytics as transformative tools for modernizing agriculture and enhancing farmer well-being.

Dr K.K. Singh, Former Asst. Director General (FE), ICAR, New Delhi, and Dr P. K. Nag, Former Director, National Institute of Occupational Health, Ahmedabad were the distinguished experts to review the progress of the cooperating centers. Senior officials, Research Engineers/PIs, and associated scientists from cooperating centers of AICRP on ESAAS and officials of NERIST, Nirjuli, participated in this workshop. Prof. Aditi Bhadra, Head of the Department, Agricultural Engineering, NERIST, delivered the welcome address, highlighting the department's contributions to research, innovation, and sustainable agricultural practices.

Dr K.K. Singh also addressed the challenges in farm mechanization, emphasizing the need to enhance human comfort and reduce drudgery in agriculture. 

Dr Nag traced the adoption of advanced methodologies in ergonomics, highlighting India’s progress and future opportunities. Coordinating and cooperating centers’ publications viz. Research Highlights 2024-25, leaflets and success stories were released in the Inaugural session.

During the two-day deliberations, technical sessions, business sessions, and plenary sessions were held. The achievements and progress of cooperating centers for 2024–25 were reviewed following the XV workshop held on March 20-21, 2024. 

Two technologies were commercialized; four patents and four design registrations were granted by cooperating centers of AICRP on ESAAS. The research engineers of different centers presented the future programmes for the years 2025-26.

(Source: ICAR-Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Bhopal)