Socio-economic Status and Pesticide Use in Two Ecologically different Habitats of Kumaun Region, Uttarakhand, India

Abstract

Pesticides play a vital role in enhancing crop production to meet the challenge of an ever increasing population. The study focuses on the use of pesticides in the Kumaun region of Uttarakhand which consists of both the mountain and the tarai belts. Hilly region comprises of maximum number of districts, but the pesticide market is mainly in the plains. Four districts of Kumaun region namely Pithoragarh, Champawat, Nainital and Udham Singh Nagar were surveyed with the help of a questionnaire which addressed to the socio-economic and socio-demographic profiles of the pesticide users. In tarai belt, 91 per cent farmers used pesticides for agricultural production compared to 47 per cent in the hilly region. The usage of pesticides has been the highest in Nainital and Udham Singh Nagar districts. The survey also focused on the awareness of the farmers regarding the use of pesticides and their associated effects on flora and fauna. The study highlights a need to review the mismatch in governance and policy framing in pesticides sector.