Awareness of Measures for Reducing Health Risk of Using Low-Quality Irrigation Water in Morogoro, Tanzania

Abstract

The study examined the awareness of farmers, vegetable traders, and consumers on the health risk reduction measures when using low-quality water in irrigated agriculture, and identifies farmers’ perceptions of the effectiveness of the health risk reduction measures. Data collection methods included a questionnaire survey with 60 farmers, 60 vegetable traders, and 70 consumers and four focus group discussions. General results show a low level of awareness of the health risk reduction measures in using low-quality irrigation water in all respondents’ categories. However, health protection measures such as health education, treatment of wastewater, washing low-quality water-irrigated vegetables with tap water, and the use of gloves while in the field were the most acknowledged measures, while crop restriction and cessation of irrigation before harvesting were among the less-recognized measures. No association was found between farmers’ socio-demographic characteristics and the mean awareness score of risk reduction measures, while a significant association was found between consumers’ study location (p < 0.05) and vegetable traders’ education level (p < 0.05). A statistical significant association was also found between farmers’ perception of the effectiveness of the health risk reduction measures and their study location. In such, wastewater farmers perceive the health risk reduction measures were very effective in reducing health risks compared to polluted river water farmers. This study suggests that health education targeting at specific exposed group and their social-demographic characteristics is the potential measure in raising awareness of the potential health risk reduction measures when using low-quality irrigation water in irrigated agriculture.