Farmers' Perceptions ot Pesticides, and Resultant Health Problems from Exposures

Kishi, Misa

doi:10.1179/oeh.2002.8.3.175

Cited by 29 publications

(16 citation statements)

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“…A similar trend was found by Khan (2011). These findings are not surprising given that farmers who use pesticides normally view them as a guarantee for high yields and product quality (Damalas et al 2006a), and the overriding concern is that damage by pests leads to economic loss (Kishi 2002;Barraza et al 2011). In developing countries, agriculture is being intensified to produce more food and agricultural products (Meerman et al 1996), with order of priorities on (1) increasing yields, (2) crop protection, and (3) human health, environmental, and social aspects.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 67%

Factors preventing the adoption of alternatives to chemical pest control among Pakistani cotton farmers

Khan

Damalas

2014

International Journal of Pest Management

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Providing pest control solutions that are less harmful to the farmers and the environment, while maintaining effectiveness on pests is a major goal in modern crop protection. A survey of randomly selected cotton farmers from two districts of Punjab in Pakistan was conducted to study common crop protection practices and related behaviors of farmers in an attempt to identify factors preventing the adoption of alternatives to chemical pest control in the area. Almost all farmers reported using pesticides extensively as the only way of controlling pests and often by mixing two or more different pesticide products. Most farmers felt that spraying with chemicals is not only highly effective, but it is also the only viable option available at the moment. Thus, despite significant health concerns, they felt forced to use pesticides. Almost half (49%) of the farmers, irrespective of age, showed a tendency toward pesticide overuse by spraying higher quantities of pesticides than those required. To model farmers' behavior toward environmentally sound alternatives of pest control, a binary probit regression model was used expressing behavior as a function of age, education, farm size, income, risk perception levels, adverse health effects by pesticides, and training. Education and training were the main determinants of environmentally sound behavior in pest control, in the sense that high levels of education and training appeared to discourage pesticide use in the study area. In contrast, experience of health problems was not associated with behaviors toward pesticide reduction or adoption of alternative pest control practices. Additionally, governmental policies, such as the outdated extension system and the easy availability of pesticides under a non-existing or poor regulation system, which encourage farmers to utilize pesticides, should be considered as extra major barriers in the adoption of alternative pest control practices.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 67%

Factors preventing the adoption of alternatives to chemical pest control among Pakistani cotton farmers

Khan

Damalas

2014

International Journal of Pest Management

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“…In the cotton belt of Punjab, Pakistan, there was a clear tendency towards pesticide overuse among farmers, but with a decreasing trend after training on IPM, high education, and use of highly toxic pesticides . It is possible, however, that even adequate levels of knowledge are not always enough to change farmers' behavior towards safe handling practices (Kishi, 2002;Damalas et al, 2006a;Isin and Yildirim, 2007). The results of this survey highlighted the need for training of farmers on a) the selection of proper period for pesticide application for insect control, b) the identification of natural enemies for major cotton pests, and c) the discrimination of symptoms of various diseases.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 88%

Farmers' knowledge about common pests and pesticide safety in conventional cotton production in Pakistan

Khan

Damalas

2015

Crop Protection

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“…Also, farmers in group B were not aware of the potential hazards of pesticide use on health. Farmers' knowledge concerning the health dangers of pesticides is crucial for promoting pesticide safety, but often is not sufficient to change their behaviors (Kishi, 2002). Sometimes farmers believe that pesticides are harmful only under certain conditions and only harm certain types of people (i.e., the old or the weak) and not those who are immune (Palis et al, 2006).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Farmers' Perceptions of Pesticide Efficacy: Reflections on the Importance of Pest Management Practices Adoption

Hashemi

Damalas

2010

Journal of Sustainable Agriculture

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Few integrated pest management programs pay specific attention to the decision-making process of farmers in choosing and applying pest management interventions. Thus, practical recommendations provided through extension services frequently fail to be adopted by farmers. A survey of farmers was conducted in the rural area of Arsanjan County in Fars province of southern Iran to explore farmers' perceptions of pesticide efficacy and to evaluate whether these perceptions are reflected in attitudes towards the importance of pest management practices adoption. The study revealed two distinct groups of farmers: group A with farmers who clearly had a positive opinion about the efficacy of the current pesticide products (i.e., they felt that current pesticides are generally effective), and group B with farmers who had a rather negative opinion about the efficacy of the current pesticide products (i.e., they felt that current pesticides are not so effective). Farmers in group A considered IPM principles to be the most important of three areas of pest management practices, they were aware of the potential health hazards of pesticide use, and they were interested in knowing about other alternatives for pest control besides the use of pesticides. By contrast, farmers in group B rated IPM principles as less important, they felt that pesticide use is the sole method of pest control, and they tended to increase pesticide use every year to control pests. Moreover, farmers in group B were not aware of the potential health hazards of pesticide use. Perceptions of pesticide efficacy were found to play a major role in the behavior of farmers towards the use of pesticides and the adoption of alternative methods of pest control such as IPM. Evidently, farmers' perceptions of pesticide efficacy should receive special attention by extension services as a critical point of intervention for rational pesticide use and adoption of IPM programs.

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Farmers' Perceptions ot Pesticides, and Resultant Health Problems from Exposures

Cited by 29 publications

References 0 publications

Factors preventing the adoption of alternatives to chemical pest control among Pakistani cotton farmers

Factors preventing the adoption of alternatives to chemical pest control among Pakistani cotton farmers

Farmers' knowledge about common pests and pesticide safety in conventional cotton production in Pakistan

Farmers' Perceptions of Pesticide Efficacy: Reflections on the Importance of Pest Management Practices Adoption

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