Farmer knowledge of pesticide use, health safety practices, and its environmental effects in Soroti district, eastern Uganda

Abstract

Irresponsible pesticide handling and application have adverse effects to human health and the environment that include killing of non-target organisms, water contamination, soil contamination and air pollution. This research study focused on assessing the safety practices used by farmers during pesticide handling and application, the farmer knowledge of the potential risks of irresponsible pesticide use to human health and the environment and the farmers’ perception on the risks associated with irrational use and mishandling of the pesticides. The study was carried out in Soroti district, eastern Uganda where a survey was conducted in two Sub counties (Gweri and Arapai) using survey questionnaires that had structured, multiple choice and Likert-scale questions. The results of the study showed that only 12.8% of the farmers had full protective gears for pesticide application and the rest had either a combination of some protective equipment or nothing at all. Thus, the government should improve access to Personal Protective Equipment through subsidizing or distribution to the farmers. Only 55.7% of the farmers were confirmed to adhere to the recommended pesticide-use safety practices and this calls for extension services to increase awareness of the pesticide-use safety practices. The average score in a test that assessed the farmer knowledge of the potential risks of irresponsible pesticide use on human health and the environment was 57.8% out of 100% which indicates that the farmers were not fully aware of the potential risks of pesticide effects. Thus, this also demands the enhancement of the extension services to raise awareness on this matter. The assessment of the farmers’ perception on the risks associated with irrational use of the pesticides revealed that 37% agreed and 28.3% strongly agreed that pesticides can cause cancer and other health problems and only 25% agreed and 12.8% strongly agreed that pesticides can harm beneficial insects and wildlife. None of the farmers strongly disagreed, 40% agreed and 22.2% strongly agreed that pesticides pollute air, water and soil. These results of the study also call for the need for the increase in the awareness of the pesticide effects among the farmers.