Sale, storage and use of legal, illegal and obsolete pesticides in Bolivia

Omar Huici,Jasmin Haj-Younes,Erik Jørs

doi:10.1080/23311932.2015.1008860

Omar Huici, Jasmin Haj-Younes + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1080/23311932.2015.1008860

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Abstract

AbstractUnregulated selling practices, bad storage habits and the use of illegal pesticides in Bolivia are widespread, with increasing negative consequences on public health and the environment. The present study describes the selling, storage and use of legal, illegal and obsolete pesticides among pesticide retailers and farmers in Bolivia. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 191 pesticide-using farmers and 40 pesticide retailers. Data were gathered in 2009 in La Paz County, Bolivia. A questionnaire was used to evaluate pesticide handling practices and observational data on pesticide stocks and storage was assessed through direct visits on site. Banned, outdated and highly toxic pesticides were found stored on most smallholder farms. A mean of 299 g of pesticides was found on each farm, of which 60% were obsolete. Knowledge on pesticide toxicity and safe handling practices were lacking among both retailers and farmers, and poisonings were frequently reported. Significant figures of obsolete pesticid...

Highlights

Widespread pesticide use in low-income countries has entailed a number of challenges to human health and the environment over the past few decades
The present study describes the selling, storage and use of legal, illegal and obsolete pesticides among pesticide retailers and farmers in Bolivia
The present study identifies a number of negative trends seen in the study population of pesticide retailers and pesticide-using farming households in La Paz district

Summary

Introduction

Widespread pesticide use in low-income countries has entailed a number of challenges to human health and the environment over the past few decades. In many low-income countries, pesticide imports are sold to licensed retailers via wholesalers, who supply the end users, predominantly farmers and livestock keepers. Access to pesticides is often uncontrolled and challenges, such as unauthorized dealing and selling to minors, have previously been documented (Pereira et al, 2007; Yang et al, 2014). Great informational deficiencies in every chain of transaction between buyer and seller exists, where pesticide retailers commonly act as the main source of information on pesticide toxicity and handling to the users (Stadlinger, Mmochi, & Kumblad, 2013; Yang et al, 2014). Despite the key role retailers seem to play as information source to the pesticide users, they remain a poorly studied group in scientific literature

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