Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Farmers on Pesticide Use and Their Impacts on the Environment and Human Health From Small Scale Vegetable Farming Along the Littoral of Lake Ziway, Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: The insecure utilization and misapplication of pesticides in Ethiopia are major fears to farmers' wellbeing and the ecosystem. This study aimed to assess the level of knowledge, attitude, and practices of the small-scale vegetable farmers towards the use of pesticides in Ethiopia along the littoral of Lake Ziway. Methods: It was a cross-sectional study involving a total of 210 farmers randomly selected during pesticide application from a purposively selected irrigation-using village located in the immediate vicinity of Lake Ziway. Data were generated through structured in-depth interviews and observations on-farms. A chi-square test was applied to evaluate whether the collected data and their probable association were significant. Results: The results show that WHO class II pesticides (moderately toxic) are the most frequently used pesticides in the study area. The use of WHO classes 1a and 1b and banned or restricted pesticides such as DDT and Endosulfan were not reported. A great portion (92%) of farmers indiscriminately disposed of empty containers in the field while 86.7% apply the leftover pesticides to other crops. More than 90% of small-scale farmers did not use any personal protective equipment (PPE) when handling pesticides. About 95% of farmers had poor knowledge regarding pesticides. A significant association (p < 0.001) was observed between the knowledge of the farmers and their practices related to the pesticide. Conclusion: Generally, the Knowledge of small-scale farmers on pesticides was poor. Moreover inappropriate disposal of pesticides and its container will damage the environment. The finding of the study underlines the need to train framers concerning the safe and proper use of pesticides to prevent health and environmental hazards.

Biocontrol competence of Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisopliae and Bacillus thuringiensis against tomato leaf miner, Tuta absoluta Meyrick 1917 under greenhouse and field conditions

“…Although there are various methods to control insects, currently, chemical insecticides are principally used in the management of leaf miner. Several studies, however, showed that continuous use of the chemicals are implicated with destruction of natural enemies, buildup of insecticide residues on tomato fruits, and the environment, rapid development of insecticide resistance, and reduced profits from high insecticide costs [ 9 , 10 , 11 ]. This necessitates a shift from conventional pest control practices to integrated pest management (IPM), in order to reduce application of pesticides and produce healthy food [ 12 ].…”