A Design Research Study to Understand Factors Affecting Tool Design for Small-Scale Rice Farming in Western Maharashtra

Due to issues of small land size and dependence on traditional tools and methods, small and marginal farmers continuously struggle to maintain a balance between the investment towards this expensive equipment and their crop yield. These
issues highlight the need for intervention in the small-scale rice farming domain. Literature study, along with a discussion with a resource person from one NGO from the western region of the state of Maharashtra, was used to gain a preliminary understanding of on-the-ground realities and issues affecting small-scale rice farming. The information collected from these sources were then mapped to generate morphological representations of activities and tools. These were visually represented as overlays on a mind map to understand the current state of tool usage and deficiencies in farm implements. The authors have used the design methods to visualise the rice farming activities and tools used. The map with overlay can be used as a reliable reference point for generating parameters which affect farm tool design for small and marginal rice farmers.