Factors affecting the knowledge of vegetable farmers of Chitwan and Makwanpur district over pesticide use (original) (raw)

Farmers' Knowledge on Pesticide Safety and Pest Management Practices: A Case Study of Vegetable Growers in Chitwan, Nepal

Farmers' knowledge on pesticides and their safe use are critical for implementing effective pest management program. A household survey was conducted using the semi-structured questionnaire to evaluate vegetable growers' knowledge on pesticide safety and pest management practices in Nepal. Results indicated that chemical pesticides were the primary choice of over 80% growers for pest management. Notably, 90% growers were aware of adverse effects of pesticides on human health and to the environment. Over 84% growers used at least one form of personal protection equipment (PPE) during pesticide spray or handling, although the quality and appropriateness of the PPE warrants further investigation. Nearly 17% growers received at least one short-term training on integrated pest management (IPM); however, all of them neither knew the harmful effects of pesticide residues nor practiced proper pesticide disposal methods. Over 90% of growers rely on local pesticide retailers (i.e., Agro-vets) for technical know-how about pesticide selection, handling, and use. This study highlighted a need for immediate implementation of strict pesticide use regulations and recommended educational programs for pest control professionals, growers, and pesticide retailers.

Knowledge, Practice and Use of Pesticides among Commercial Vegetable Growers of Dhading District, Nepal

Journal of Agriculture and Environment, 2010

A field study was conducted to evaluate knowledge, practice and use of pesticides among thirty commercial vegetable growers of Dhading district of Nepal. More than four in five were using pesticides and more than one third were using it for more than six years. Nearly half of them spray pesticides five to six times. More than one-sixth pesticides used were extremely hazardous, which were barred for general agriculture use. Waiting period is less than four days for nearly two-third growers. More than three-forth know the adverse effect of pesticides and nearly half experienced symptoms of health hazards. Majority did not receive any official training on pesticides and nearly one-third doesn't read information available in pesticide label. Nearly half were not using Personal Protective Equipment during pesticide application. Nearly two-third throw pesticide container anywhere after using it. The finding of this study is oriented to the following recommendation: the need for awareness, education and training on the uses of pesticides to the farmers and effective monitoring program for pesticide residues in vegetables.

Farmers Knowledge, Practices and Perceived Health Symptoms Associated with Pesticides used in Thimi, Bhaktapur, Nepal

International Journal of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, 2015

Background: All over the world, the use of pesticides is considered the most attractive method of controlling pests which involves less labor and characterizes higher output per hectare of land. I aim to study to assess Farmers Knowledge and Practices of Pesticides used and self-reported health systems associated with pesticides used in Thimi, Bhaktapur. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted among farmers of Thimi, Bhaktapur. 210 farmers were enrolled in the study. Data collection involved a self-prepared questionnaire to farmers and information was collected by face to face interviews. Socio demographics status, unsafe pesticide handling practices of pesticide storage, conditions of personal protective equipment (PPE) was assessed as per the questionnaires. Results: Out of 210 farmers, who participated in the study, 70% were male and 30% were female. Majority 87% of farmers couldn’t read and write. Knowledge regarding the personal protective equipment was known to 85...

Knowledge and Practice of Pesticides among the Farmer of Bhaktapur Municipality, Nepal

2019

Background and Objectives: Pesticides are the substance which is used in agriculture to prevent, destroy and control the unwanted pests, weeds and other plant disease to enhance the production, processing, storage and transport food and agriculture commodities. The use of pesticides dramatically increases agricultural production and productivity. However, there are some negative externalities from such use of pesticides, as the use of pesticides raises the negative impact also increases. So the objective of this study is to assess knowledge and practice of pesticide use among farmers of Bhaktapur municipality. Methods: A self-designed questionnaire about knowledge and practice of pesticide use was distributed to the farmers of Bhaktapur municipality. The questionnaires were collected, processed, analyzed and tabulated to find out the existing knowledge and practices of farmers about pesticides use. Results: This study comprising of 54.1% (n=106) female and 45.9 %( n=90) female in th...

Knowledge on Pesticide Handling Practices and Factors Affecting Adoption of Personal Protective Equipment: A Case of Farmers from Nepal

Advances in Agriculture, 2021

Globally, the use of pesticide is growing day by day, but the use of PPE in developing countries is still low and farmers are directly exposed to chemicals which have negative health issues. Thus, this study was conducted in different places of Nepal where the use and adoption of chemical pesticide is high. This study aims on assessment of pesticide handling practices and determinants of adoption of PPE where 281 respondents were interviewed by the simple random sampling technique. A binary logit model was used to predict the determinants for adoption of PPE while spraying pesticides. Schooling years, training, reading label, and buying pesticide by name are the determining factors in adoption of PPE at 1% level of significance in the logit model. Still, the pesticide handling practices followed by farmers are not satisfactory and proper protective clothes are not used while spraying pesticides. Thus, to protect from different health issues, training, seminars, and talk discussion s...

Factors Associated with Practice of Chemical Pesticide Use and Acute Poisoning Experienced by Farmers in Chitwan District, Nepal

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

In view of increasing irrational use and unsafe handling of pesticides in agriculture in Nepal, a descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the practice of chemical pesticide use and acute health symptoms experienced by farmers. A total of 790 farmers from the Chitwan district were randomly selected for the study. X2 test, T-test, and Multiple Logistic Regression were used for analysis. Among the farmers, 84% used exclusively chemical pesticide. Farmers with better knowledge on pesticide handling were 8.3 times more likely to practice safe purchasing, four times more likely to practice safe mixing and spraying, and two times more likely to practice safe storage and disposal. Similarly, perception/attitude of farmers about chemical pesticide policy and market management was significantly associated with the practice of farmers during purchasing, mixing and spraying, and storage and disposal. Among the users of chemical pesticides, 18.7% farmers experienced one or more...

Knowledge, skills, and behavior towards chemical pesticide among vegetable growers, vegetable sellers, and consumers of Rupandehi district, Nepal

Nepalese Horticulture, 2022

In recent days the use of pesticides has become necessary for vegetable crop production as it exhibits very quick results, ease in application, and availability. Pesticides are chemicals used for the control or management of insects, rodents, nematodes, etc., and are widely used to represent insecticides, rodenticides, herbicides, fungicides, biocides, and similar chemicals (Hamilton,

Assessment of pesticide use in major vegetables from farmers’ perception and knowledge in Dhading district, Nepal

Journal of Agriculture and Natural Resources

A field study was carried out to assess the pesticide use status in major vegetable crops from farmers’ perception and knowledge in Dhading, Nepal in 2019. Field study was carried with 100 commercial farmer’s using semi-structure questionnaire by face to face interview. This study was analyzed by categorization of farmers into small holder (51) and large holder (49) groups on the basis of mean area of vegetable cultivation (6.48 ropani). The highest amount of pesticides is needed in tomato in both large holders and small holders according to the farmer’s experience. Among the study farmer’s, 41% of them spray the pesticides by making a cocktail or mixed method and 56% follow the waiting period of 3-5 days in both of the cases. A significant positive correlation was found at 5% level of significance between the knowledge and practice pattern of waiting period of the pesticides and negative correlation was found between the Personal Protective equipment score and health hazard score....

Patterns of Pesticide Use and Associated Factors Among the Commercial Farmers of Chitwan, Nepal

Environmental health insights, 2016

Farmers in developing countries are exposed to pesticide hazards due to unsafe handling. This study was conducted to identify the prevailing practices of pesticide use and factors affecting the handling of pesticides among the farmers of Chitwan, Nepal. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 125 farmers. None of the farmers completely followed all the protective measures. About 59% disposed the empty pesticide containers to a nearby water source and 62% preferred house ceilings as a storage place. Males (aOR = 3.99, CI = 1.63-9.78) and older farmers (aOR = 6.18, CI = 2.59-14.72) were more likely to smoke or chew tobacco during the process of spray. Males (aOR = 2.42, CI = 1.03-5.67), literate farmers (aOR = 3.56, CI = 1.51-8.33), and farmers aware of color coding (aOR = 2.67, CI = 1.13-5.67) were more likely to read the labels on pesticide bottles. In spite of an extensive use of pesticides, the farmers were not following proper and safe handling practices, exposing them and th...

Occupational Health Hazards of Pesticides Use among Commercial Vegetable Farmers of Kirtipur Municipality, Kathmandu

International Journal For Multidisciplinary Research, 2023

Background: Occupational health and safety are the integral components of the general concepts of health. In Nepalese context, misuse of pesticides have been observed and practiced in several ways. Nepalese farmers use too much pesticide than needed with too little protection when using pesticides due to which many accidental poisonings occur annually. This study aims to assess the occupational health hazards related to pesticide use among commercial vegetable farmers of Kirtipur Municipality, Kathmandu. Methodology: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 107 randomly selected commercial vegetable farmers in Kirtipur Municipality of Kathmandu by using semi-structured questionnaire. Data were collected using face to face interview method. The questionnaire included sociodemographic characters, pesticide use practices, storage and disposal techniques and health effects among the farmers. Data were entered in Epidata and then analyzed in SPSS version 21. Frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation were calculated to measure the practice of pesticide use and occupational health hazards related to pesticide use among farmers. Result: The study is comprised of 52% male and 48% female. About 89% of farmers were wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) during spraying of pesticides. Maximum numbers of farmers changed clothes and took a bath right after the application of pesticide i.e. 87% and 88% respectively. Almost half of the vegetable farmers (45.1%) used burn method for disposal of empty pesticide containers. However, 45.6% of the respondents experienced health problems within 48 hours of pesticide application. Conclusion: The study concluded that almost half of the pesticide users had shown various symptoms of health hazards. Unsafe equipment and condition, inadequate training, limited availability and use of PPE all contributed to the health hazards of pesticide users.