Pesticides handling knowledge and practices of smallholder farmers: Case study of Nigeria

BOLUWATIFE TENIOLA IGBASAN

Master's thesis

Abstract:

Nigeria is a country where farmers rely heavily on pesticides usage for productivity but care less about protecting themselves whilst handling pesticides thereby exposing themselves to potential sicknesses and death among farmers because of the toxic nature of the pesticides.The aim of this research is to assess pesticide knowledge and handling practices among smallholder farmers in Ogun state, Nigeria. Purposive sampling technique was employed in choosing the two local governments which were the study area of the research. Simple random sampling technique was used in selecting the 156 farmers that were interviewed for the purpose of the study.The questionnaire survey was used in face-to-face interview and focus group discussion was conducted to collect data. The data was analyzed using Multiple Linear Regression and descriptive statistics.The result of the Multiple Linear Regression shows that an increase in the level of education of farmers, information gotten from other farmers and pesticides label information had positive statistically significant impact on the knowledge and handling practices of farmers which in turn influences their attitude towards usage.However, trainings given by extension had a negative impact on farmers’ knowledge and most farmers will not seek information from them. Disposal of leftover pesticides, usage of personal protective equipment such as gloves and nose mask were not regularly used by farmers and this can be attributed to lack of proper training and economic factor as most farmers said they couldn’t afford personal protective equipment and will rather invest the money on purchasing pesticide for higher crop yield.The implication of this is that traders of pesticides needs to be properly trained on the kind of pesticides that are not shelve worthy because of their level of toxicity and the danger it poses to the farmers. Training given to traders of pesticides will help them advice farmers accordingly and this will translate to better handling practices among the farmers. Also, it could avoid the sales of banned pesticides by the traders as most of them have little or no knowledge about pesticides and the danger of its exposure.

Keywords

handling practices, personal protective equipment, knowledge, farmers

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 14. 5. 2020

Thesis defence

• Supervisor: doc. Ing. Miroslava Bavorová, Ph.D.
• Reader: Mira Lehberger, externi

Czech University of Life Sciences Prague

Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences

Master programme / field:
Tropical Agriculture / International Development and Agricultural Economics