Pesticide handling practices by vegetable farmer in Kenya

Abstract

Pesticide handling practices have a strong bearing on the exposure of toxic effects to target and nontarget organism. A clear understanding of determinants of pesticide handling practices is a precondition in the design and implementation of policy intervention. To accomplish this, a household survey of 425 respondents was conducted in 2008. Majority of the farmers (85 %) had inappropriately handled pesticides, mainly through, unsafe storage (23 %), unsafe disposal of leftover in either sprays solutions, or rinsate and empty pesticide containers (40 %), failure to wear the required minimum protective gear (68 %), or overdosed pesticides (27 %). However, majority of those farmers were aware of the risks of pesticide use, with over 81 % expressing the view that pesticides have harmful effects on human health, livestock, beneficial arthropods, and on water. Econometric models showed that pesticide handling practices were significantly influenced by variation in record keeping, main source advice on pesticide use, toxicity of pesticide, and geographical location. Pesticide risk perception and negative impacts experiences had no association with handling practices. The study recommends policymakers to design effective, participatory, and location targeted outreach programmes, which deal specifically on promotion of record keeping and reduction in use of harmful pesticides.

Pesticide use practices among smallholder vegetable farmers in Ethiopian Central Rift Valley

“…Empirically, specific studies have shown the high human and environmental risks of unsafe use of pesticides in many African countries such as Ghana (Ntow et al 2006), Tanzania (Ngowi et al 2007), Botswana (Obopile et al 2008), Ethiopia (Jansen and Harmsen 2011), Benin (Ahouangninou et al 2012), Uganda (Kateregga 2012), Kenya (Macharia et al 2013). Other parts of sub-Saharan Africa have similar problems with the widespread use of highly toxic and illegal pesticides (Ecobichon 2001;Williamson et al 2008;Handford et al 2015).…”

“…Since Rachel Carson's Silent Spring attention has been given to the hazards of extensive pesticides use in developed and developing countries (e.g. Karlsson 2004;Hoi et al 2013;Ríos-González et al 2013;Jansen and Dubois 2014), including sub-Saharan Africa (Ngowi et al 2007;Jansen and Harmsen 2011;Stadlinger et al 2011;Kateregga 2012;Macharia et al 2013;Mengistie et al 2014).…”

“…Different studies conducted on knowledge, attitude and behaviour among smallholders (Mekonnen and Agonafir 2002;Obopile et al 2008;Macharia et al 2013;Abang et al 2014;Damte and Tabor 2015) have shown that unsafe use of pesticides is common in developing countries including in Ethiopia. However, little research has explored farmers' actual practices, while applying an approach based on practice theory could improve our understanding of these practices and the changes therein.…”

Environmental governance of pesticides in Ethiopian vegetable and cut flower production

“…They found four types of obsolete Even where legislation is sufficient information about distribution and use, enforcement is often inadequate. Like in many developing countries (Ecobichon, 2001;Kateregga, 2012;Macharia et al, 2013;Stadlinger, 2013), also Ethiopia does not have the skilled human resources nor the infrastructure to secure environmental and human health in local pesticide trade and use (PAN-UK, 2006;Williamson, 2008;Mengistie et al, 2014) and support from international parties has been too limited to make a difference (Stark, 2011;Handford et al, 2015). For instance, the WHO (2011) reported that 67% of countries in Africa knew only limited enforcement of pesticide regulations.…”

“…The unsafe distribution and use of pesticides in many African countries such as in Ghana (Ntow et al, 2006) Tanzania (Ngowi et al, 2007), Uganda (Kateregga, 2012), Kenya (Macharia et al, 2013) has been widely documented. Other parts of Africa have shown similar problems with poorly implemented pesticide legislation, leading to widespread use of highly toxic and illegal pesticides (Ecobichon, 2001;Williamson et al, 2008;Handford et al, 2015).…”