Abstract
Abstract Pesticides are commonly used in the prevention or control of pests such as insect pests, mites, disease, and weeds in crops to increase production and productivity. The aim of the current study was designed to assess the pesticide utilization, practice, pesticide-related knowledge, and perception of farmers and to evaluate the protective measure taken by the farmers. For this purpose, field surveys were carried in Amibara, Gewane, Assayita, and Fentale districts during the 2019 main crop cropping season. A total of 128 small-scale holder farmers, 25 large-scale holder farmers, 30 sprayers, and 12 extensions were interviewed closed and opened questioners. The results revealed that the majority of farmers (44.5%) between the age of 41 and 50 years old, while only fourteen those (9.4%) were more than 51 years old. Regarding the educational level of smallholder farmers, 49.2% were illiterates, 27.9% elementary school, 17.0% secondary school and 5.8% had completed high school. The majority of sprayers (66.7%) were elementary school level. The unsafe and indiscriminate use of pesticides in agriculture represents a major hazard to the environment and human health. All farmers (100%) acknowledged that pesticides were harmful to their health and the environment. Over 63.2% of the farmers did not read or follow pesticide label instructions, and 78.5% did not use any personal protective equipment during spray operation and formulation pesticides. When disposing of pesticide empty containers, respondents adopted unsafe practices such as through near irrigated canal, burning, dumping in the field, domestic use, and burying. Less than 50% of smallholder farmers obtained training on pesticide use 14.8%, application method 16.6%, disposal of empty container 13.3%, and storage and safety 10.2%. Results also demonstrated that all farmers showed poor practices regarding the disposal of empty pesticide containers. The present study revealed that the utilization and practices of pesticides in irrigated cotton-producing areas in the Awash Valley of Ethiopia. It also demonstrated the role of retailers, importers, and state extension workers in providing information and advice to the farmers. Future researches should focus on the merit and demerit of mixing two or more pesticides to control insect pests and on the evaluation of different pesticide resistance development against a variety of insect pests in cotton-growing areas.
Highlights
Chemical pesticides are commonly used in the management of pests, insects pest, mites, diseases, and weeds in cotton production in Ethiopia is increasing due to the expansion of cotton production and food crop which resulted in higher consumption of chemical pesticides
In Amibara district two sprayers were serious poisoning with pesticides, both of them took medical treatment, the one who got early treatment was partially healthy, the other man was worked as a pesticides sprayer for 12 years, we interviewed him in May 2019 and he told us a medical test indicated that a large amount of chemical was cumulated in his body, one of the hospitals in Addis Abeba was asked him 60000 ETB for medical treatment but he was poor unable to pay it, due to this reason he died without medical treatment in the 2020 year
None of the cooperatives or unions used as the source of pesticides for smallholder farmers but it was used as the source of pesticides for large holder farmers in Awash valley for cotton production (Fig 7)
Summary
Cotton is an annual cultivated fiver crop that is produced commercially in over 80 countries in the world located in the tropics and temperate climate zones (Lundbaek, 2002). In Ethiopia, the total agro-ecologically potential areas for cotton production is estimated to be 2, 575, 810 hectares, and actual production was estimated at 477, 000 hectares in 2006 (Hiwot, 2007). Chemical pesticides are commonly used in the management of pests, insects pest, mites, diseases, and weeds in cotton production in Ethiopia is increasing due to the expansion of cotton production and food crop which resulted in higher consumption of chemical pesticides. It was estimated that there were 402 stores at 250 sites containing 1, 500 tons of obsolete pesticides (Tilahun, and Hussen, 2014). This estimate does not include the massive but unquantifiable amounts of pesticides soaked in soils
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