FARMING HAZARDS AND SAFETY IN THE USE OF MECHANIZATION FOR AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY IN ABIA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Agriculture workers come in contact with chemical or biological products. They are made to operate several machines for bush clearing, cultivating, harvesting to packaging of agriculture products. Therefore, farming activities may have potential risk on agricultural workers. The paper investigated farming hazards and safety in the use of mechanization for agricultural productivity in Abia State. The objectives of this paper is to explore the hazards and safety awareness level of agricultural workers in Abia State and to ascertain the hazard and safety management strategies adopted to increase productivity of agro products through the use of mechanized farming in Abia State. The descriptive survey research was adopted, in which data were collected after administering 60 questionnaires to agricultural workers to determine the agricultural hazards awareness and safety measures that can improve productivity in agricultural operations within the farming areas. The study found that hazards are prevalent factors in every agricultural production area, and safety measures are necessary to avert a decline in agricultural productivity. Based on the finding, the study recommends that Farm administrators should inspect equipment and machines routinely to uncover problems that may result to workplace accidents or incidents, in order to prevent any occurrence of damage to equipment and harm to agricultural workers operating with the equipment or working within the areas that this equipment is used for farming activities at any work location around the farming environment and management of farm organizations should often discuss safety, hazards or risk management issues and emergency procedures with agricultural workers to keep them alert and ready on how to tackle potential workplace hazards to report near hazard situation to supervisor while carrying out their routine work roles in various farm areas.