Abstract
Background.Over and improper use of chemical pesticides can have adverse effects on the environment, human health, and social capital.Objectives.The present study investigated pesticides available in the market, as well as handling and usage of pesticides by farmers in the Northern Region of Ghana.Methods.Cluster sampling was used to select 20 communities from the Tolon District. Simple random sampling was then used to select 5 households from each community and one farmer from each household, giving a sample size of 100 farmers.Results.The survey identified 39 agrochemical shops in the Tamale Metropolis. Thirty-six different pesticides were identified on the market, mainly comprised of insecticides and herbicides. The predominant active ingredients were cypermethrin and glyphosate in insecticides and herbicides, respectively. The survey revealed 18 kinds of pesticides commonly used by the farmers on their fields, with atrazine being the most commonly used herbicide (42%) and Lambda Super 2.5 EC the most commonly used insecticide (50%). The study also revealed that 64% of the respondents disposed of their empty pesticide containers indiscriminately and 44% stored used and unused pesticides in their bedrooms.Conclusions.The mode of disposal of used pesticides containers and storage of pesticides by the respondents contribute to human health and environmental hazards. Measures to educate farmers on pesticide usage and storage to help accomplish the target of environmentally friendly and sustainable agricultural production should be taken by the appropriate authorities.Participant Consent.ObtainedCompeting Interests.The authors declare no competing financial interests.
Highlights
IntroductionElemental sulfur dusting was the first known pesticide used in ancient Sumer approximately 4,500 years ago in prehistoric Mesopotamia.[1] Pesticides are substances of a chemical nature used to control organisms that are harmful
Pesticides have been used for crop protection since at least 2000 BC
The survey revealed 18 kinds of pesticides commonly used by the farmers on their fields, with atrazine being the most commonly used herbicide (42%) and Lambda Super 2.5 EC the most commonly used insecticide (50%)
Summary
Elemental sulfur dusting was the first known pesticide used in ancient Sumer approximately 4,500 years ago in prehistoric Mesopotamia.[1] Pesticides are substances of a chemical nature used to control organisms that are harmful. Their use in agriculture can adversely affect the environment, ecosystems and human health.[2] Pesticides are sub classified by the organism type they are intended to control such as biocides, insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, rodenticides, pediculocides, molluscicides, nematicides, and plant growth hormones.[3,4]. Crop farmers, health, herbicide, insecticide, pesticide, pollution Received May 6, 2019. In Ghana, farmers’ poor knowledge of pesticide types, their use and attendant risks, ineffective enforcement of pesticide regulations by the government and robust incentives amongst pesticide users and traders to create income has led to an increased use of adulterated, mislabelled and cheap pesticides.[8]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
