Abstract
A farmer survey was conducted in four major vegetable growing districts; Badulla, Kandy, Matale and Nuwara Eliya to identify the sensitivity of vegetable growers on the impacts of synthetic pesticides used in vegetable culti-vation and the problems faced by them in maintaining pest- and disease- free crops for maximum economic bene-fits. The key factors involved in farmers’ decision making in selecting pesticides were the product quality, farmer experience, availability and reputation than the price, product novelty and influence of the dealer and the peers. More farmers indicated that some Organophosphates, Carbamates, Pyrethroids and fungicides are more effective in controlling insect pests and diseases. A majority of farmers reported that the new-hybrids which are sensitive to insect pests and diseases as a drawback in minimizing agrochemical usage. The survey revealed that the prod-uct quality, farmers’ experience, availability of the product, company reputation, income, and price are influ-enced for decision making. Hence suggested cohesive research and development programs to develop non-pesticide dependant crop management practices; efficient pesticide application techniques that help minimize to pesticide requirement; establishment of surveillance system and implementing policies to regular monitoring of pesticide residues in vegetables. We emphasize that excessive use of pesticides is an economical and behavioural “lock in’ aspect that require multi-dimensional approach to find a solution to this issue.
Highlights
Many attempts have been made in recent years in Sri Lanka to study the pesticide use practices in vegetable cultivation, especially in the up - and mid- country in order to provide status quo of the issue and to develop guidelines to minimize pesticide use (Chandrasekara et al 1985; De Silva 2003; Selvarajah and Thiruchelvam 2007; Sumith 2009; Marasinghe et al 2011; Chaminda et al 2012; Sumith and Munkittrick 2011, Sutharshan et al 2014; Padmajani et al 2014; Pathirana et al 2015; Marasinghe et al 2017)
No efforts have been made to determine the underline forces that make farmers to adhere to pesticide-based pest management methods and to understand the knowledge and technology gaps that need to be fulfilled to empower farmers to shift towards a new pest management system with least pesticide-dependence (Sinek 2009)
Survey instrument: The survey was designed to determine the socio-demographic profile of vegetable farmers in the selected districts, record the agronomic and pest management practices followed during the main season of 2016/ 2017 and to obtain detailed information about farmers’ knowledge and attitudes on decision making on insect pest and disease management
Summary
Many attempts have been made in recent years in Sri Lanka to study the pesticide use practices in vegetable cultivation, especially in the up - and mid- country in order to provide status quo of the issue and to develop guidelines to minimize pesticide use (Chandrasekara et al 1985; De Silva 2003; Selvarajah and Thiruchelvam 2007; Sumith 2009; Marasinghe et al 2011; Chaminda et al 2012; Sumith and Munkittrick 2011, Sutharshan et al 2014; Padmajani et al 2014; Pathirana et al 2015; Marasinghe et al 2017) These investigations were aimed mainly to determine the profile and frequency of pesticides used and the application techniques followed. No efforts have been made to determine the underline forces that make farmers to adhere to pesticide-based pest management methods and to understand the knowledge and technology gaps that need to be fulfilled to empower farmers to shift towards a new pest management system with least pesticide-dependence (Sinek 2009).
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