Greater presence of women in the field influences the development of technologies

The presence of women in agribusiness activities is increasingly evident. According to data released by the 2017 Agricultural Census, from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), of the more than 15 million people who work in the field, 19% are female.

Whether in leadership positions or even with a foot in the field, they gain space and are increasingly capable of operating in the market. Among the sectors where the presence is greatest is agriculture, with emphasis on horticulture.

This movement has attracted the attention of companies that develop technological solutions to assist in rural activities, which began to analyze the needs of female workers and apply them in the development of new products.

This is the case of Guarany, one of the leaders in spraying in Brazil, which has just launched a new product on the market whose development was based on the particularities of operators who use the equipment in the field.

“We observed the main demands coming from the female public, when they were questioned about the use of knapsack sprayers on crops. Points such as comfort, ergonomics, ease of use, safety and quality of application were what guided the Balance project”, says Guarany's commercial director, Pedro Augusto Lopes.

The project, which has the traditional quality of the Guarany brand in its DNA, was developed together with a product design company and universities, in order to offer more ergonomics and practicality, respecting the operator's body, both female and male.

“Our experience and operations in markets where women are traditionally protagonists, such as Africa, helped us to better understand the points for improvement in existing products. Our main focus was the issue of comfort offered to the user in cases of continuous use in the field”, he highlights.

Designed for the application of agricultural pesticides and foliar fertilizers, the Balance Lever Knapsack Sprayer has a structure with a larger base and lower center of gravity, which provides more stability and balance during handling, as well as better support during refueling.

Among the main differences of the product is the tank, which was designed respecting the particularities of each gender, which guarantees more comfortable usability during work. In addition to the S3 discharge set with trigger fixing lock for continuous spraying, the Sprayer has the option of the S7 discharge set with two locks, the additional safety one that prevents accidental spraying. Both sets incorporate the adjustable conical jet tip and filter incorporated into the handle.

“Most knapsack sprayers available on the market were designed to meet the needs of men and, consequently, do not offer much comfort to women. Furthermore, the rounded corners and no sharp edges make it easier to work in areas with dense vegetation”, highlights Pedro.

Quality 

The equipment is available on the market with a 16 and 20 liter chemical tank, both with a high-resistance pump positioned inside and fixed without screws, which eliminates the possibility of leaks and facilitates maintenance.

The Balance Lever Backpack Sprayer also has other features, such as: L-shaped lever with length adjustment and ergonomic handle, dosing cup attached to the supply cap, syrup agitation system, padded straps with a shape that reduces perspiration through contact with the body and hose reinforced with nylon weave.

“The market already recognizes the efficiency and quality of application in our solutions, in addition to concern for user ergonomics. The Costal Balance Pulverizador brings this background from more than 96 years of tradition with an innovative and attentive look at an audience that has shown growth, strength and independence in the field: women”, concludes the director.