Pesticide use in banana and plantain production and risk perception among local actors in Talamanca, Costa Rica (original) (raw)
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Environmental Research, 2008
The use of pesticides in the cultivation of cash crops such as banana and plantain is increasing, in Costa Rica and worldwide. Agrochemical use and occupational and environmental exposures in export banana production have been documented in some parts of Central America. However, the extent of agrochemical use, agricultural pest knowledge, and economic components in plantain production are largely unknown in Costa Rica, especially in remote, high-poverty areas such as the Bribri-Cabécar Indigenous Territories. Our objective was to integrate a rapid rural appraisal of indigenous farmer pesticide application practices and pest knowledge with a cost-benefit analysis of plantain production in the Bribri-Cabécar Indigenous Territories, for the development of better agricultural management practices and improved regulatory infrastructure. Interviews conducted with 75 households in 5 indigenous communities showed that over 60% of participants grew plantain with agrochemicals. Of these plantain farmers, over 97% used the insecticide chlorpyrifos, and 84% applied nematicides, 64% herbicides, and 22% fungicides, with only 31% of participants reporting the use of some type of protective clothing during application. The banana weevil (Cosmopolites sordidus Germar) was ranked as the most important agricultural pest by 85% of participants, yet only 28% could associate the adult and larval form. A cost-benefit analysis conducted with a separate group of 26 plantain farmers identified several national markets and one export market for plantain production in the Indigenous Territories. Yearly income averaged US$6200/ha and yearly expenses averaged US$1872/ha, with an average cost-benefit ratio of 3.67 for plantain farmers. Farmers applied an average of 9.7 kg a.i./ha/yr of pesticide products and 375 kg/ha/yr of fertilizer, but those who sold their fruit to the national markets applied more nematicides, herbicides, and fertilizers than those who sold primarily to export markets, suggesting a lack of appropriate application knowledge. Results indicate that the quantity of agrochemicals applied in plantain cultivation is less than that applied in export banana, but the absence of appropriate agrochemical application practices in plantain cultivation may pose serious risks to human and environmental health. Culturally appropriate farmer education and certification programs are needed as well as the development of safe-handling practices, regulatory infrastructure, and adequate agrochemical storage, transport, and waste disposal facilities. Long-term solutions however, are dependent on the development of policies and infrastructure that support non-chemical pest management, alternatives to pesticides, and the identification of organic plantain markets.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2021
Conventional banana farming is pesticide-intensive and leads to high exposure of farmworkers. Ecuador is the world’s biggest exporter of bananas. In this field study in 5 communities in Ecuador, we recorded potentially pesticide-associated subjective health symptoms in farmworkers and compared pesticide users to workers in organic farming. With one exception, symptom rates were always higher in the pesticide-exposed group. Significance was reached in 8 out of 19 investigated symptoms with the highest odds ratios (and smallest p-values) for local irritation like skin and eye irritation (OR = 3.58, CI 1.10–11.71, and 4.10, CI 1.37–12.31, respectively) as well as systemic symptoms like dizziness (OR = 4.80, CI 1.55–14.87) and fatigue (OR = 4.96, CI 1.65–14.88). Moreover, gastrointestinal symptoms were reported more frequently by pesticide users: nausea (OR = 7.5, CI 1.77–31.77) and diarrhea (OR = 6.43, CI 1.06–30.00). The majority of farmworkers were not adequately protected from pesti...
Revista Facultad Nacional de Salud Pública, 2020
Objectives: to explore the decision-making process of agricultural workers associated with pesticide use and exposure; to deduce whether these processes differ between pesticide users and non-users; and to analyze the characteristics of these differences. Methodology: This study used a grounded theory approach to understand the decision-making process for pesticide use/non-use among agricultural workers in San Cristobal, Colombia. This study involved participant observation, individual interviews, and focus groups. Results: the theory developed to explain the decision-making process for pesticide use showed several categories including: the prospect of having a good harvest, efficient pest control, habituation to the use of pesticides, feeling obligated to use them, poor knowledge about pesticides, believing that pesticides increase the quality of the products, positive attitudes towards pesticide use, family support towards pesticide use, community pressure and acceptance, economic fear, and market pressure. In the nonpesticide user group categories included: having better health, pesticides considered harmful for human health, pesticides being deleterious for the environment, habituation to working without pesticides, family and economic support, and negative attitude towards pesticide use. The decision-making process for personal protective equipment (PPE) use encompassed categories such as: feelings of powerlessness, economic difficulties, and belief that equipment is not necessary. Discussion: The decision-making process for pesticide use in agricultural communities is complex and varies between pesticide users and non-users. Conclusions: It is important to consider the intricate process of pesticide use in order to orient interventions in the agricultural sector.
Revista Internacional de Contaminación Ambiental, 2022
Agriculture in the Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico, grew last year, and pesticide use problems have been reported; however, there is no information about the use and management of pesticides in farms. In this study, the main pesticides used by farmers were identified in two types of agriculture: open-air (milpa) (OA) and enclosed area (shade house and greenhouse) (EA), in order to evaluate their use and management and the related environmental and health perceptions of users. Surveys (38 questions) were applied to 39 farmers in the study area, which consisted of 14 localities in Yucatán State. The most cultivated products were habanero pepper (Capsicum chinense) for enclosed-areas and maize (Zea mays) for open-air agriculture. The use of 33 active ingredients was reported. Some of them have restrictions in México (i.e., dicofol and methamidophos). Paraquat was the most used of all pesticides reported. Organophosphorus pesticides (OP) were the most used. Farmers know about the environmental and health risks related to pesticide use; however, a lack of knowledge about the misuse of these products was evident. The surveys showed deficiencies in personal protection during application and incorrect disposal of empty containers and wastes. The analysis showed that the behavior of farmers about pesticide management and their perception of damage to health and the environment were multifactorial. The results conclude that farmers’ personal aspects (i.e., language, education) are the leading cause of problems associated with pesticide misuse and the lack of information and training, representing a risk for human health and the environment.
International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health, 2006
In an agricultural region of Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil, rapid assessment procedures were used for risk-perception studies based on methodologic triangulation that included semi-structured interviews, participatory observations, and focus groups. Data were qualitatively categorized. Women's risk perception was prioritized, as they did not recognize some risks they were exposed to during work activities. To reach women likely to be exposed to pesticides, a photographic soap opera (fotonovela) was constructed in collaboration with rural workers, using community-based participatory research methods. Contents of the risk-communication strategies included the harmful effects of pesticides. Results showed that the inclusion of risk-perception studies in the development of educative and risk-communication campaigns is very important, bridging research to action.
Revista Facultad Nacional de Salud Publica, 2014
Objective: this study aims to explore how campesino non pesticide users differ in their knowledge, attitudes and beliefs, and perceptions of control and confidence surrounding pesticide use compared to pesticide users. Methodology: we collected 79 questionnaires with adult (male and female) rural agricultural campesinos in San Cristobal, Antioquia, Colombia. We examined the campesinos’ perceptions on pesticides’ harm for human health and the environment, as well as their beliefs, attitudes, perceived control, and perceived confidence related to pesticide use. Results: The findings differed between two campesino groups sampled: pesticide users and agroecological adherents. Pesticide users showed lower perceptions of pesticide harm for human health and the environment, lower perceived control about stopping pesticide use (an increase of one unit in control decreases the logit of using pesticides by 74%), and lower confidence about stopping pesticide use than agroecological adherents (an increase of one unit in confidence decreases the logit of using pesticides by 64%). Discussion: Several individual factors influence the occupational safety and health of campesinos, including perceived control and confidence. We recommend that future public health and educational interventions should improve safety training and confidence so campesinos can gain control of the process for implementing behavioral change related to pesticide use reduction.
Pesticide Use and Risk Perception: An Analysis from the Laboratory Fields
2021
The central focus of this article is the analysis of farmers' hybrid local knowledge and their perceptions of risk as they are present in the dynamics of legitimisation of pesticide use -including how it is selected, store, prepared and applied. The case study was situated in a rural area in Southern Brazil, where there is widespread intensive and unsafe use of pesticides in horticultural production. Through the data I question two presuppositions that are common in the literature on pesticide risks. One considers farmers as lacking the correct or sufficient information about health and environmental risks. The other sees farmers as victims of economic constraints, pressure by salespeople, or a 'technological treadmill'. Without denying the relevance of these arguments, farmers are seen as knowledgeable agents with their own reasons and their own perception of the risks associated with the use of pesticides. I point to a current local knowledge that is a mixture of past ...