Pesticide handling behaviour of vegetable farmers - a multimensional analysis

Abstract

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 90 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 91 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. 92 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