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Practices and Knowledge of Smallholder Farmers Towards Safe Pesticide Management in East Gojjam Zone, Northwest Ethiopia

Received: 13 October 2024     Accepted: 4 November 2024     Published: 26 November 2024
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Abstract

In recent years, safe pesticide management has become increasingly important. Thus the research was aimed to evaluate the current state of pesticide management practices and farmers knowledge. The study deployed a multistage sampling technique to select participant districts and the respondents. About 268 sample respondents were drawn from six districts of East Gojjam zone. The results revealed that the majority of the farmers (69.45%) store their pesticides in their houses that they perceive anybody can’t be reached. Farmers were found to have poor practices of using face masks, overalls, goggles, and gloves. Farmers frequently engaged in good practices of washing and calibrating spraying machines. Around 57.22%, 41.9%, and 38.9% of farmers visit their freshly sprayed fields within 24 hours of spraying insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides, respectively without using personal protective equipment. Farmers demonstrated proficiency in several hygienic practices including taking a bath, changing clothes, and washing cloths immediately after spraying. Participant farmers experienced various health symptoms after spraying pesticides. The majority of the farmers were cognizant on exposure routs of pesticides. However, they didn't understand the intended pictogram messages from pesticide containers. The study demonstrated that improper pesticide management had an impact on both the environment and farmers' health. Thus, there is a need to improve farmers' knowledge and skills by offering regular awareness-raising training on safe pesticide management techniques.

Published in Journal of Health and Environmental Research (Volume 10, Issue 4)
DOI 10.11648/j.jher.20241004.13
Page(s) 102-113
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

East Gojjam, Health Symptoms, Knowledge, Pesticides, Practices, Safe Use

References
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Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Adamu, A., Assaye, A. (2024). Practices and Knowledge of Smallholder Farmers Towards Safe Pesticide Management in East Gojjam Zone, Northwest Ethiopia. Journal of Health and Environmental Research, 10(4), 102-113. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jher.20241004.13

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    ACS Style

    Adamu, A.; Assaye, A. Practices and Knowledge of Smallholder Farmers Towards Safe Pesticide Management in East Gojjam Zone, Northwest Ethiopia. J. Health Environ. Res. 2024, 10(4), 102-113. doi: 10.11648/j.jher.20241004.13

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    AMA Style

    Adamu A, Assaye A. Practices and Knowledge of Smallholder Farmers Towards Safe Pesticide Management in East Gojjam Zone, Northwest Ethiopia. J Health Environ Res. 2024;10(4):102-113. doi: 10.11648/j.jher.20241004.13

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  • @article{10.11648/j.jher.20241004.13,
      author = {Abebaw Adamu and Anduamlak Assaye},
      title = {Practices and Knowledge of Smallholder Farmers Towards Safe Pesticide Management in East Gojjam Zone, Northwest Ethiopia
    },
      journal = {Journal of Health and Environmental Research},
      volume = {10},
      number = {4},
      pages = {102-113},
      doi = {10.11648/j.jher.20241004.13},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jher.20241004.13},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.jher.20241004.13},
      abstract = {In recent years, safe pesticide management has become increasingly important. Thus the research was aimed to evaluate the current state of pesticide management practices and farmers knowledge. The study deployed a multistage sampling technique to select participant districts and the respondents. About 268 sample respondents were drawn from six districts of East Gojjam zone. The results revealed that the majority of the farmers (69.45%) store their pesticides in their houses that they perceive anybody can’t be reached. Farmers were found to have poor practices of using face masks, overalls, goggles, and gloves. Farmers frequently engaged in good practices of washing and calibrating spraying machines. Around 57.22%, 41.9%, and 38.9% of farmers visit their freshly sprayed fields within 24 hours of spraying insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides, respectively without using personal protective equipment. Farmers demonstrated proficiency in several hygienic practices including taking a bath, changing clothes, and washing cloths immediately after spraying. Participant farmers experienced various health symptoms after spraying pesticides. The majority of the farmers were cognizant on exposure routs of pesticides. However, they didn't understand the intended pictogram messages from pesticide containers. The study demonstrated that improper pesticide management had an impact on both the environment and farmers' health. Thus, there is a need to improve farmers' knowledge and skills by offering regular awareness-raising training on safe pesticide management techniques.
    },
     year = {2024}
    }
    

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    AU  - Abebaw Adamu
    AU  - Anduamlak Assaye
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    DO  - 10.11648/j.jher.20241004.13
    T2  - Journal of Health and Environmental Research
    JF  - Journal of Health and Environmental Research
    JO  - Journal of Health and Environmental Research
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    AB  - In recent years, safe pesticide management has become increasingly important. Thus the research was aimed to evaluate the current state of pesticide management practices and farmers knowledge. The study deployed a multistage sampling technique to select participant districts and the respondents. About 268 sample respondents were drawn from six districts of East Gojjam zone. The results revealed that the majority of the farmers (69.45%) store their pesticides in their houses that they perceive anybody can’t be reached. Farmers were found to have poor practices of using face masks, overalls, goggles, and gloves. Farmers frequently engaged in good practices of washing and calibrating spraying machines. Around 57.22%, 41.9%, and 38.9% of farmers visit their freshly sprayed fields within 24 hours of spraying insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides, respectively without using personal protective equipment. Farmers demonstrated proficiency in several hygienic practices including taking a bath, changing clothes, and washing cloths immediately after spraying. Participant farmers experienced various health symptoms after spraying pesticides. The majority of the farmers were cognizant on exposure routs of pesticides. However, they didn't understand the intended pictogram messages from pesticide containers. The study demonstrated that improper pesticide management had an impact on both the environment and farmers' health. Thus, there is a need to improve farmers' knowledge and skills by offering regular awareness-raising training on safe pesticide management techniques.
    
    VL  - 10
    IS  - 4
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Author Information
  • Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), Debre Markos Agricultural Research Center (DMARC), Agricultural Extension Research Department, Debre Markos, Ethiopia

  • Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), Debre Markos Agricultural Research Center (DMARC), Agricultural Extension Research Department, Debre Markos, Ethiopia

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