Ergonomic Assessment and User-Centered Redesign of Traditional Corn Farming Tools: A Comprehensive Review of Biomechanical Health Risks, Socioeconomic Factors, and Technological Innovations in Smallholder Systems

Abstract

This study presents a comprehensive review of traditional corn-farming tools and their ergonomic implications within smallholder systems. Drawing on multidisciplinary evidence from agronomy, anthropology, economics, and biomechanics, the research examines how tool design, material composition, and usage patterns influence farmer health, productivity, and technology adoption. Traditional implements such as hoes, dibblers, and seeders are contextualized as both cultural artifacts and functional devices, with their persistence shaped by ecological adaptability, affordability, and local material availability. Ergonomic assessments reveal that short handles, heavy blades, and repetitive postures contribute to musculoskeletal strain, while redesigns incorporating anthropometric data, lightweight materials, and improved grip geometry significantly reduce operator fatigue. Task analyses highlight planting and weeding as high-frequency, high-exposure activities, underscoring the need for user-centered interventions that address cumulative workloads in fragmented smallholder plots. Biomechanical studies employing EMG, IMU, and physiological measures demonstrate clear links between tool configuration, muscle activation, and MSD prevalence, providing quantitative targets for redesign. Integrating socioeconomic constraints with ergonomic innovations, the review argues that sustainable adoption depends on aligning tool improvements with farmer realities of cost, repairability, and cultural familiarity. By bridging crop biomechanics, human-centered design, and socioeconomic analysis, this research advances a holistic framework for ergonomic tool development that enhances both farmer well-being and agricultural productivity in smallholder corn systems.