Training Farmers in How to Apply Pesticides and Other Topical Subjects

Abstract

When the use of chemical pesticides began to increase, there were several commercially available insecticides that were considered to be highly hazardous pesticides (HHP) to use. Methyl parathion was one of these insecticides. In Zimbabwe, it was decided that the containers of insecticide should have a colour to indicate its toxicity level as defined by the World Health Organisation. Thus, the colour purple indicated an extremely hazardous pesticide (Class I), while the colours red, orange and green indicated Classes II, III and unclassified pesticide. Pesticides with a purple or red label were not displayed and those who wished to purchase these products had to know about their higher toxicity and precautions to be taken when used. Despite this system of simple colour codes, many smallholder farmers in cotton growing areas did not know the significance of this code. In Zimbabwe, pesticides are now sold over the counter regardless of the toxicological and ecotoxicological impacts. However, this government policy was intended to stimulate and grow the agricultural sector, but small-scale farming is prevalent and dominated by vulnerable populations. Due to these factors, beneficiaries of subsidised pesticides engage in uncontrolled vending of pesticides. Companies have not adopted this and unfortunately, responsible registration in many countries has not limited the sale of HHP products. Without proper training workers have died or suffered illness following use of these pesticides. According to Rother label information is a poor communication vehicle regarding risks, so it is argued that the use of the term "misuse" of pesticides in the literature, and by regulators and industry inappropriately allocates blame of poisonings and environmental contamination to end-users. In the UK, the Crop Protection Association introduced a Voluntary Initiative aimed at improving the standards of pesticide use. This resulted in setting up the National Register of Sprayer Operators (NRoSo), which is open to anybody who holds an appropriate certificate of competence qualification approved by the Chemical Regulations Directorate (CRD) for the safe application of pesticides. In some countries, the government has supported Extension Services, usually linked to a University. These provide training for farmers, but in many parts of the world there has been relatively little attention to providing farmers adequate training on the correct and safe way to apply pesticides. The Inter-African Phytosanitary Council (IAPSC), which is a part of the African Union (AU), was increasingly concerned about the safety and efficiency of pesticides used in Africa. In all member states, there were cases of pesticide abuse at the field level and lack of adequate control over the way pesticides were being used. In particular, small-scale farmers using knapsack sprayers and other portable application equipment were inadequately trained. Similarly, this was also a problem amongst plantation workers. An example of the problems in Nigeria is expressed by Asogwa et al and Onuegbu & Harbor. The lack of training was also reported from Pakistan, where the majority of the farmers (88%) in the study had never received any formal training on the use of pesticides and knapsack sprayers. Instead farmers learnt methods of spraying pesticide, handling and tank filling by imitating their relatives or neighbours. Another contributing factor in acute pesticide poisoning of farmers was due to knapsack sprayers being poorly maintained. When spraying, most farmers had wet clothes owing to leakage from ill-fitting nozzles and poorly kept equipment. It was observed that most of the equipment that was in use, was locally made and was of poor quality. Many of the knapsack sprayers had been there for years without any maintenance, repair or replacement by new equipment. The lack of training and unavailability of safetyequipment is consistent with other studies. In 2000, FAO organised a Training programme for agricultural staff in tropical countries, who were expected to utilise their training to organise training sessions in their own country. The initial course was aimed at farms in Cameroon, but for a second course, participants were invited from other African countries. One result of these training sessions was a 273 page booklet produced by FAO.