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PRISMA

Use of Wearable Technology to observe gender differences in workload in farming households in Indonesia.

Objective

To test whether wearable technology and smartphones can objectively measure and compare the workloads, activity levels, and mobility patterns of men and women in rural farming households in Indonesia.

Method

The study followed a mixed-methods, real-world field design over a full 5-month agricultural cycle (including planting, growing, and harvesting phases).

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Participants: 60 farmers (30 men and 30 women) from 30 households

 

Technology: Garmin wearable devices and smartphones with GPS-enabled apps

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Data captured:

  • Physical activity (steps, distance, movement patterns)

  • Physiological data (heart rate, activity intensity, sleep)

  • Location data (GPS tracking of farms, homes, and other places visited)

 

Participants wore the devices continuously and carried smartphones daily, enabling real-time, passive data collection across all activities — both farm work and household tasks.

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This quantitative data was combined with:

  • Field observations

  • Focus group discussions

  • Comparative analysis against traditional self-reported methods (e.g. surveys and time diaries)

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Advanced data processing and analytics were used to map behaviour patterns, classify locations (home, farm, other), and analyse workload intensity across different stages of the farming cycle.

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Onmi provided the technical infrastructure that enabled the study, including data collection systems, device integration, and a monitoring dashboard. This platform allowed researchers to securely capture, track, and analyse real-time behavioural data from participants at both individual and community levels.

Results

  • The technology proved highly effective, with strong participant engagement and reliable long-term data collection.

  • Objective data revealed that women’s overall workloads are similar to men’s, with additional labour in the home.

  • Men tended to travel more frequently, while women spent more time at home but often worked longer hours across domestic and farming tasks.

  • The study demonstrated that wearable technology can provide more accurate, real-time insights than traditional surveys.

  • This approach shows strong potential for monitoring the impact of agricultural practices and policy on communities.

Partners

For this research project Onmi partnered with University of Canberra.

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