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The study entitled “Pesticide handling behaviour of vegetable farmers- A
Multidimensional analysis” was conducted in Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala
during the year 2019-21 among the vegetable growers. The objective of the research
was to measure the knowledge, extent of adoption and attitude of vegetable farmers
on safe handling procedures of pesticides in Thiruvananthapuram and also analyze the
constraints in adopting the safe handling procedures.
Two panchayaths were selected from each 4 AEU’s and from each panchayath
15 respondents were picked out thus forming a total of 120 respondents. Independent
variables measured in the study were selected through judges rating. The selected
variables were age, education, source of information, farming experience, training
received, economic orientation, environmental orientation, innovativeness, perception
about health risk, risk orientation and labour availability and dependent variables were
attitude, knowledge and adoption.
A structured interview schedule was administrated for data collection.
Statistical tools such as mean, standard deviation, quartile deviation, percentage
analysis, frequency, Karl Pearson correlation and chi square were used for the
analysis.
Based on analysis of data, it was found that majority (45.8%) of the farmers
belonged to old age category followed by middle age (45%) and young age (9.2%).
Most of the respondents (70.8%) had SSLC level education followed by 15 per cent
of the respondents who had degree and above level of education and 9.2 per cent and
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5 per cent had below 10th level and higher secondary level of education, respectively.
A large proportion (40.8%) of the respondents had 21 to 30 years of farming
experience followed by 30 per cent having 11-20 years of experience and 15 per cent
having 31 to 40 years of experience and a very low of 8.3 per cent and 5.8 per cent of
the respondents had less than 10 and greater than 40 years of experience, respectively.
A large number of respondents (47.5%) had utilized family members as their labour
followed by 30 per cent of the respondents who had hired labour and only 22.5 per
cent had both hired and family labour. Majority of the respondents (45.8%) had
medium level of economic orientation, (65%) environmental orientation, (65%) risk
orientation, (43.3%) innovativeness, (50%) information source utilization and (56.7%)
perception about health risk. Agriculture Officer was the highest ranked source of
information by the respondents followed by Agricultural Assistant and input dealers.
The findings revealed that 45.8% of the respondents had attended 1 to 3 trainings
followed by 42.5 per cent of the respondents having attended 4-6 training and only
11.7 per cent of the respondents had attended 7 to 10 trainings. With respect to major
vegetable crop grown, majority of the respondents were growing yard long bean that
is 47.50 per cent followed by 38.33 per cent were growing cucumber as the major
crop and a very less percentage (2.50%) were growing tomato.
Knowledge was measured by a teacher made test, that had 40 statements, and
the correct statements were given a score of 2 and incorrect statement 1. The
knowledge score so arrived was converted into knowledge index. The 40 statements
of knowledge test were divided into 8 different components. Since each component
had uneven number of questions, weighted overall knowledge index is calculated.
More than half of the respondents (54.2%) had medium level of knowledge about safe
handling of pesticides followed by 24.2 per cent who had high level of knowledge and
only 21.7 per cent had low level of knowledge about safe handling practices. In the
distribution of respondents based on knowledge on practices recommended for safe
handling of pesticides storage of pesticide had the highest knowledge index and
disposal of empty containers had the least knowledge index.
The adoption level of the respondents was measured using the formula
developed by Singh and Singh (1967).There were 36 statements under 6 different
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components in the adoption scale. Since each component had uneven number of
questions, weighted overall adoption quotient was calculated. Majority of the
respondents (48.3%) had medium level of adoption of safe handling of pesticides
followed by 26.7 per cent who had high level of adoption and only 25 per cent had low
level of adoption of safe handling practices. In the distribution of respondents based
on adoption of safe handling practices spraying of pesticide had the highest adoption
quotient among other components and usage of personal protective equipment had the
least adoption quotient.
The attitude of the farmers was analyzed with the scale developed by Jasna
(2018). More than half of the respondents (57.5%) had medium level of attitude
towards safe handling of pesticides followed by 22.5 per cent who had high level of
attitude and only 20 per cent had low level of attitude towards safe handling practices.
The results of Karl Pearson correlation analysis with knowledge and
independent variables revealed that out of 9 independent variables selected for the
study, three variables were significantly related to the dependent variable knowledge.
Innovativeness, training received and source of information were significant at 0.05
level of significance. The results of chi square analysis with knowledge and education
showed significant relationship at 0.01 level of significance. Perception about health
risk, training received and source of information was observed to be positively
influencing the adoption of safe handling practices. The findings showed that the
association of attitude and nine independent variables selected for the study, three
variables that is perception about health risk, training received and source of
information had 0.05 level of significance.
The constraints experienced by the farmer in following the safe handling
procedures of pesticides were categorized into five categories viz. technical,
occupational, economic, marketing and infrastructural. Discomfort in wearing safety
equipment's while work, reduced efficiency in work after wearing the safety
equipment and no premium price for safe vegetables were the major constrains faced
by the respondents.
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From the study it can be concluded that usage of personal protective
equipment had the least adoption (37.90%) among the respondents, it was mainly due
to the discomfort in wearing it while working and additional time and effort needed in
following the safety measures. To improve the adoption of safe handling practices of
pesticides, the attitude towards safe handling measures should be improved and
focused training on safe handling practices are to be given