MARKET RESEARCH ON QUALATATIVE STUDY

WORKING STRESS OF
WOMEN IN A CASHEW
PROCESSING
INDUSTRY

2009-10
 MMR
Qualitative Research Report
On
“Working stress Of Cashew processing industry”

Submitted To
Submitted To
Prof. D. N. Rao
Prof. L. P. Panda

Submitted By
Ram Prasad Das (Regd No.S0941)

Dated 20th April, 2010.

Centurion School of Rural Enterprise Management, Parlakhemundi.

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 CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that Ram Prasad Das is the students of PGDM 2009-2011, of CSREM,
Paralakhimundi. I have prepared a Qualitative report on “Working stress Of Cashew

processing industry (PKD)” is the original piece of work & best of my knowledge.

Prof. D. N. Rao
Prof. L. P. Panda
(Guide for the report)

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 DECLARATION

I do hereby declare that this report entitled “Working stress Of Cashew processing

industry (PKD)” submitted by Ram Prasad Das. It has not been submitted by any other student
and not copied from anywhere and prepared by best of my knowledge with effectively &
efficiently.

Ram Prasad Das

Regd. No-S0941.
PGDM 2009-2011

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 ACKNOWLEDGMENT

I express my thanks to our Dr.L.P.Panda in supervising, the present work. I am thankful

to the women to do the Qualitative Research study about who are working in the cashew
processing indystry Parlakhemundi. I am also very much thankful to the Eswar Rao,Manager
who has allow to collect informatation & interect the women who are working this industry..
Here I would like to acknowledge their precious co-operation and express my sincere
gratitude to them.
My deep appreciations go to Dr. L.P.Panda lecture of Marketing Research, his co-
operation and guidance had helped the study to start in its earliest and most vulnerable stages.
I have considerably benefited by the whole hearted support of all the women workers,
who has provided the information. Their co-operation and encouragement towards us generate
inspiration for successfully completion for completed my survey.
Once again, I am very much thankful to our Director Dr.G.C.Patro and our Prof. D.N.Rao
& Prof. L. P. Panda for providing the opportunity to prepare this report. It is my great pleasure to
express my experience about working stress Of Cashew processing industry Parlakhemundi. I
am so happy with the workers during the survey.
I put my best effort to make the successful completion of the report.

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 CONTENTS

Page No
1. INTRODUCTION TO QUALITATIVE RESEARCH 6

2. INTRODUCTION TO STUDY 7-9

3. RESEARCH PROBLEM 9

4. PURPOSE OF THE STUDY 9

5. RESEARCH QUESTION 9

6. KEY RESEARCH OBJECTIVE 10

7. METHOD & PROCEDURE 10

8. RESEARCH PLAN 11

9. LIMITATION 11

10. DATA ANALYSIS 12

11. STRESS OF WORK IN CASHEW INDUSTRY 12-15

12. CONCLUSION & RECOMMENDATION 15

13. QUESTIONNARIE 16

14. REFERENCE 17

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INTRODUCTION TO QUALITATIVE RESEARCH

The main objective is to gain a qualitative understanding of the underlying reasons and
motivations. Sample is Small number of non-representative cases. Data collection is
unstructured. Data analysis non-statistical. Outcome develops an initial understanding.

CHARACTERISTICS OF QUALITATIVE RESEARCH

QR “implies a direct concern with experience as it is ‘lived’ or ‘felt’ or ‘undergone’.

Secondly, the researcher is the primary instrument for data collection and analysis. Total context
can be considered.
Thirdly, it involves field work. The researcher must physically go to the people, setting, site,
institution (the field) in order to observe behavior in natural setting.
Fourth, QR primarily employs an inductive research strategy builds abstractions, concepts,
hypotheses, or theories rather than text existing theories.
QR findings are in the form of themes, categories, typologies, concepts, tentative hypotheses,
even theory derived from data.
Finally, the product of a qualitative study is richly descriptive.

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INTRODUCTION

This Qualitative research its primary aim is to providing a critical study of the women workers,
those who are working under cashew industry in Parlakhemundi in different areas but I take
Venkateswara cashew industry, Davidigaam near Devidi, Parlakhemundi.

CASHEW PROCESSING
Cashewnut processing units in Andhra Pradesh and Orissa are mainly concentrated in few
districts . These units have a capacity from 12 MT’s to 150 MT’s of RawCashewnut Processing.
Most of the units have investment ranging from Rs 1.00 lakh to Rs 43.00 Lakhs. Number of
employees in the unit’s range from 20 to 60 persons, mostly women. Almost all the units use the
well-known drum roasting method for cashew kernel extraction. These units operate intensively
on manual labour comprising of skilled women. There exists good potential for cashew
processing in AP and Orissa. There exists good market in India for Cashewnut and tremendous
export potential.
The Markets for Processed cashew Nuts is growing. (a) Drum Roasting. In this
process the nuts (without any conditioning) are fed into a rotating drum, which is heated initially
to red hot sufficiently to allow the shell portion of the nut to ignite and burn. Once ignition starts
no further heating is necessary and the drum maintains the temperature on its own because of the
burning of oil, which oozes out of the nuts. The temperature of the drum is fairly high. It is stated
that in this method of roasting shell becomes very brittle and the rate of shelling and out-turn of

The roasting generally takes about 3-5 minutes and the drum is rotated by hand. The
roasted nuts, which are still burning are removed from the discharge end and immediately
covered by ash to absorb the oil that is found on the surface. Kernels obtained in this process
have a better color than in the other processes. However, a disadvantage of this method of
roasting is the total loss of shell liquid, which has a good commercial value. Any little advantage
in percentage of better quality kernel claimed to be obtained by this process cannot offset the
additional income that one could obtain b) Steam Roasting.

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CASHEW

Three main cashew products are traded on the international market:

Raw nuts
Cashew kernels
Cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL). A fourth product
The cashew a one major factor that affects the consumption of cashew kernels in world markets
is competition from other tree nuts.
The major importers in developed countries contract their requirement for the whole year based
on the sales from previous years.

QUALITY

W210, W240, W320, W450, WB, WS,

First quality LWP, SWP
LBW210, LBW240, LBW320, LBW,
Second quality SW210, SW2440, SW320, SW, SB, SS, LP, SP
Third quality DW320, DW350, DW
Fourth quality DW2, DW3
Fifth quality SW2, SW3, DW, DWT

Sixth quality CS, SK, SK2, TPN, TPN2, TPB, DW4

INDIAN CASHEW INDUSTRY IN A NUTSHELL

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India started its exports in the early part of 20th century with a small quantity of 50 MT which
has increased almost to the level of 0.1 million MT by the end of the same century.
Simultaneously
the export earnings almost tripled during the last decade of the 20th century.
Cashew forms an important component of the basket of agricultural products exported from
India.

EMPLOYMENT
This industry provides employment to rural poor as under:
In cashew processing factories: 0.3 million
In cashew farms: 0.3 million Of which: Women workers : 95% ie., 0.57 million
Economically backward communities: 50% ie., 0.3 million

RESEARCH PROBLEM
The problem of the research is to know the stress of women those who are working in
cashew industry in Parlakhemundi.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

The purpose of the study is to know about how the women are working in the cashew
industry with effectively & efficiently & how they maintain their life structure compare to their
work in favor of their family for more beneficiary.

RESEARCH QUESTION

Is the women workers are happy or unhappy in the cashew industry?

KEY RESEARCH OBJECTIVES:

My research is all about the living experience of the women workers in cashew industry.

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To know about working condition of the women worker those who are working in the cashew
industry.
To know about they are happy with the pay system or other beneficiary activities

METHOD AND PROCEDURES

A. RESEARCH STRATEGY
For my research study first of all this is very important that I have to know how they
work in cashew industry in Parlakhemundi.
B. RESEARCH DESIGN
This report deals with all those efforts and work which done by
its to go for an in-depth analysis about women working under cashew industry in daily.
C. COLLECTION OF DATA
PRIMARY SOURCE:
For the study purpose i conduct a interview of some members of women workers who are
working under the cashew industry. I take interview individually for every member. For
interview I was prepare some questionnaire. For our qualitative research i had taken a sample
size 12.
I collected data from
• Personal interview

• FGD

• Questionnaire

SECONDARY SOURCE:
The common source for secondary data includes different websites & books Qualitative

Research Methods

RESEARCH PLAN:

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The data will be collected from primary sources. Primary data will be collected through the
interaction, interview, Questionnaire and FGD with the women workers, who are working in the
cashew industry in Parlakhemundi. This is an exploratory study and the data will be collected
through survey. Survey will be conducted with the unstructured question in the time of interview
as well as FGD. My sample size is only 12 women workers in the cashew industry.

LIMITATIONS:
They are denying to giving information.
They are busy with their work during my survey.

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 DATA ANALYSIS

PERSONAL INTERVIEW:
To fulfill the research objective, I did personal interview of the women workers in cashew
industry. I asked the question which was unstructured question to interview. I took the interview
one by one because my sample size was only 12 women workers; first I asked the very general
question like tell me some good living experience in cashew industry. After this I asked the
question which was related to study or stress. They answered the question that we are here to get
a good knowledge as well as a handsome job. We have many pressure but we need some time to
make free of our mind.

They answered me that from last y2-3ears we are facing so many problems, but now we
are habituated. But under this problems we learn so many thing i.e. how to live in the society
without any economic instability and also think about our children future.

FOCUS GROUP DISCUSSION:

In the qualitative research I did the focus group discussion where I took 12 women workers who
are in the field of cashew industry.
In the focus group discussion I gave a specific topic to all for the discussion. The topic was, How
do you work? In the group discussion, they mainly told about the many factors which they are
facing in the livelihood.

STRESS OF WOMEN IN CASHEW INDUSTRY

Generally women workers getup early in the morning. After that they cook food for their
family & clean the house & feed the children & take the food to the work. They return to the
home evening and again cook the food for dinner & after that they sleep in the night.
The daily labour for female are 60RS per Kg otherwise 20RS per kg on the basis of cashew
industry process & procedures. The workers age between 6-50 years.
The women workers working form morning to evening for their livelihood. The working
hours morning 7am to evening 6pm and 1pm to 2pm there is lunch for the workers.

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 The working condition as the group while they are entering in to the industry the
supervisor give the boiled cashew in weight as a individual the women are crack the boil &
rosted cashew with a stick.

CAUSES FOR COMING TO THE CASHEW INDUSTRY

They actually work in agricultural field as a seasonal basis, but in other time they are spending
their time with the gossiping & invaluable & they not utilizing their time for income generation
purpose. So, early morning they get up 3am & finish the whole work within 6am & 7am they are
going to cashew industry.
To increase the income level
Lack of economic instability
Lack of economic support from their relatives
Increase the standard of living
They wish to do income generation programmers

INJURIES
If the injury occurred during the working hours then the supervisor take to the injury person near
by the hospital & give some amount of money. Medical benefit will give freely if the person
working from 3 years otherwise they give some amount of money.

MATERIALS
They generally used the stick for break the cashew nut

SCOLDING
If they are not working well then the supervisor scold to the women otherwise they will not scold
by the supervisor. The supervisory earn about minimum 3000/- per month. They are working in
the hot climate.

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 IMPORTANC OF WOMEN WORKERS

They are mainly focus on the women because they can work with hope & patience. They
will not demanding about high wages than the male candidates.

CAN LADIES WORK EFFECTIVELY?

Yes, they are work well because female can work in a desired way to break the cashew without
damage.

FACILITIES
They are getting 3 days per month as a holiday, but the industry does not cut their money. While
they are demanding extra money for other purpose for the family they are giving but those who
working 6 months in this industry.
They also provide tea every day 2 times at morning 10am & evening 4pm
STRUGGLES
They are working in a hot climate at day time. So, they are not getting any time for rest.
They are facing the health problems due they are not using the gloves to the hand &
Not any shoes to the legs.
LACK OF HOLIDAYS
They are getting 3 days per month as a holidays with wage. They have also enjoy the each &
every festival in their religion according to their wish the industry provide the benefits for their
happiness.
SEXUAL HARASSMENT
There is no sexual harassment due to they are working in a group without any abuse.
The supervisor also more conscious about the women welfare & development.

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 EDUCATION SKILLS
There is no need education skills for the cashew industry work.

CONCLUSION:
My point view is that the women are actually fit for the cashew industry, because of their
potential & effective work as compared to men. The industry also getting more benefit whikle
using women labourers in cashew processing.
So, the stress of women those who are working in the cashew industry is more but in previously
they are wasting their time with other activities.
It is very helpful to the personal development in the economical view. They have able to provide
the better education to their child with the money from the cashew industry.
Cashew industry plays an important role in rural areas. Now maximum women are in the cashew
industry.

RECOMMENDATION:
Use the gloves & shoes for hands & legs respectively
Avoid the stick work & implement mechanical instrument to crack the cashew nut
Take the food, which is gives more energy to them to work in the cashew industy
Concentrate the work & maintain silence during the working hours.

“WOMEN ARE THE EMPOWERMENT OF THE SOCIETY”

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 INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

1. What do you feel during the work?

2. What is your working hours?

3. What is your working conditions?

4. What is your daily wage base?

5. Why are coming to the construction work?

6. Are happy with the construction work?

7. What is the amount they paid per day?

8. Are you going to pressure due to the work?

9. How to deal with stress?

10. What is your opinion about stress is it good for you? why?

11. What are the problems in the cashew industry work work?

12. Is there and bad effect when you are working in the cashew industry?

13. How you maintain your family problem?

14. Are you participating any social & traditional puja anything?

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 REFERENCES

1. MMR slides (Dr.L.P.Panda)

2. Doing Interviews - “Steinar kvale”
3. Qualitative study Material - “Prof. L.P.Panda
4. www.scribd.com
5Jagadish Paricha,ASBM,BBSR
6.District report(Gajapati) 2008-09