Analysis of Farm Work in a Vertical Farm

Abstract

Background and objective: Farm work involves a range of postures depending on the type of work, and repeated farm work performed in an uncomfortable posture can cause serious functional disorders affecting the lower back, shoulders, joints, and muscles. For the physically disabled to participate in farm work, it is essential to analyze farm work based on their individual levels of physical ability. This study analyzed farm work in vertical smart farms to develop care farming services for the purpose of vocational rehabilitation of the physically handicapped.Methods: Farm work was analyzed through a field survey in a vertical farm located in P-si, Gyeonggi-do. Based on the analysis, major farm work was classified into duties and tasks.Results: Through a filed survey, farm work in a vertical farm was categorized into six duties, and all tasks were mainly performed within the same workplace. The six duties were analyzed as sowing, raising seedlings, transplanting, planting, harvesting (including sorting and packaging), and post-harvest cleaning, which were further classified into 28 tasks as sub-areas.Conclusion: The result of this farm work analysis in a vertical farm will provide useful basic data for the development of care farming services for the vocational rehabilitation of the physically handicapped.