ATTITUDES OF FARMERS TO PESTICIDES USE AND MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN SELECTED PERI-URBAN SETTLEMENTS OF SURULERE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, OYO STATE, NIGERIA
Keywords:
Farmers behaviour, Pesticides, Management, City lifeAbstract
The significance of the use of pesticides in improving crop production cannot be overemphasized. Their application in food production has also contributed significantly to increasing farmers’ income. However, the growing concerns regarding the use of pesticide and its impact on the environment necessitate urgent actions to mitigate their hazardous effects. The study investigated the knowledge of farmers, their handling practices, and attitudes toward use and management of pesticides. A multistage sampling technique was employed to select respondents for the study, in which 50% (n = 52) of the registered farmers in the study area were randomly chosen. To capture the perspectives of the unregistered farmers, an additional 52 respondents were recruited through open invitation, with Microsoft Excel used to generate random numbers for selection, giving a total sample size of 104 respondents. A well-structured questionnaire was used to collect data on the set objective of the study and data were analyzed. Farming was observed to be male-dominated (51.9%), with most respondents being Yoruba ethnicity (82.7%) and an average age above 50 years. Education was generally low, with elementary schooling being the highest for many respondents. Use of personal protective equipment (PPE) was poor, with 90% wearing incomplete PPE, and some farmers engaging in risky behaviors such as eating, drinking, or smoking during spraying. Although many considered pesticide labels useful (82.7%), most (70.2%) lacked formal training in pesticide handling, leading to unsafe application, storage, and disposal practices. Fumigants and insecticides were used in crop storage, primarily for preservation and reducing post-harvest losses. These findings highlight critical gaps in pesticide safety practices with implications for farmers’ health and environmental sustainability. Intensified farmer training on safe pesticide use, promotion of biological crop protection, and government support through provision of subsidized or free personal protective equipment were recommendations made to proffer solutions to the impending menace of indiscriminate use of pesticides in the environment.
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