Attitudes and practices of farmers with regard to pesticide use in NorthWest Ethiopia

Abstract

This paper studies the practice of synthetic chemical use among farmers and its possible occurrence as residue in fish foods in North-West Ethiopia. Cross-sectional study design was carried out from January to December 2018. A multi-stage sampling technique embedded with simple random sampling was employed for the selection of sampling units. The data were collected through in-depth interviews and observations of farmers. Data entered and analyzed by using SPSS version 20. The results showed that farmers applied chemicals indiscriminately and inappropriately on their farm, using unsafe storage facilities, ignoring risks and safety instructions. Consequently, farmers respond that insecticides and herbicides were used up to 100% and 96.4% of their farms, respectively. Most of the farmers (80.16%) of the study area have poor attitudes and practices of pesticide usage. Multivariable analysis showed, illiterate educational level; Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR] = 3.39; 95% CI: 1.7, 6.77; Land holders situation (AOR = 1.8, 95% CI: 1.52, 2.9) has been formally not trained about pesticides usage (AOR = 2.97, 95% CI: 1.06, 8.37) and not read pesticide labels (AOR = 3.69, 95%CI: 1.62, 13.64) were significantly associated with possible poor attitude and practice of pesticide contamination. We conclude that there are high possibilities of chemical residues affects fish and occurring in food products (in milk, meat, fish, vegetable and fruit) that may have a public health risk in the study area. Therefore, one health intervention is required.

Keywords:

• fungicides
• herbicides
• insecticides
• risk
• ethiopia

PUBLIC INTEREST STATEMENT

Farmers applied pesticide chemicals indiscriminately and inappropriately on their farm, using unsafe storage facilities, ignoring risks and safety instructions. Most of the farmers of the study area have poor attitudes and practices of pesticide usage. Illiterateness, the situation of land rent holders, the lack of formal training on pesticide use and the failure to read pesticide labels were the leading factors for having possible poor attitude and practice of pesticide usage of farmers. There are high possibilities of chemical residues that may affect fish and occurring in food products (in milk, meat, fish, vegetable and fruit). Thus may have a public health risk in the study area. Such information is important for appropriate imminent intervention of development practitioners, decision makers and this area issue stockholders.

Competing Interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

Authors’ contributions

BA, MA and MT developed the research concept. BA and MA contributed to the collection of materials and the drafting of the manuscript. MT provided valuable information on the subject of data analysis and the design of the study. MA and BA coordinated and supervised the study. BA and MA revised the manuscript. All authors agreed with the results and conclusions and approved the final manuscript.

Acknowledgements

We wish to extend our sincere appreciation to the National Fishery and Aquatic Life and Bahir Dar University for their financial and other support. We also acknowledge the invaluable support given by farmers, agricultural offices experts and public health officers situated in the study area for providing us with valuable information.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Ethiopian National Fishery and Aquatic life research center [17.2/0409/2018].

Notes on contributors

Birhan Agmas

Birhan Agmas Authors’ key research project includes research in general chemical and microbiological contaminants of fish food and their public health significance. This current pepper is a part of this project activity that persistence origanochlorin pesticide contamination of aquatic environment their effects on fish and public health. The current paper contributes to findings recorded in the field of environmental toxicology, especially attitudes and practices of farmers with regard to pesticide use and their possible consequences to public health.