Farmers In Bangladesh Research Articles

Impact of agricultural extension services on rice productivity and profitability in Bangladesh

Agricultural extension services play a pivotal role in promoting sustainable agriculture, particularly in developing countries where many farmers are resource-poor. Enhancing farmers’ profitability and productivity is essential to meet the increasing demand of a growing population. This study aims to examine the impact of agricultural extension services on the profitability and productivity of rice farmers in Bangladesh. The analysis uses unbalanced panel data from the International Food Policy Research Institute’s Bangladesh Integrated Household Survey for 2015 and 2018. The Mann–Whitney U test was used to assess whether the differences between the participant and non-participant groups were statistically significant. Additionally, a probit regression model is used to identify the determinants of participation in agricultural extension services. The findings reveal that participation is positively influenced by access to subsidies, distance to market, occupation and livelihood vulnerability. The impact of agricultural extension services on farm productivity and profitability is assessed using difference-in-difference and random effect generalized least squares models. The results show that agricultural extension services significantly contribute to both farm profitability and productivity. This suggests that governments should intensify and monitor the delivery of agricultural extension services, particularly focusing on the timely provision of support resource-poor farmers.

Drivers of adoption for integrated mangrove aquaculture: Its application for extensive smallholder shrimp farmers in Bangladesh

Integrated Mangrove Aquaculture (IMA) has the potential to simultaneously address the challenges of environmental degradation arising from conventional shrimp production, the expected impacts of climate change, and the growing global demand for shrimp. These challenges affect coastal livelihoods in Satkhira and Khulna districts of Bangladesh. However, IMA adoption in coastal Bangladesh so far remains low. This study explores the factors that influence IMA adoption by extensive smallholder shrimp farmers in Bangladesh using a questionnaire-based survey of 128 farmers. We identified potential drivers of adoption by combining exploratory data analysis and a logit regression analysis. Key findings were that lack of adoption appeared to be mainly attributed to a lack of awareness of IMA (65% of non-adopters were not aware of the existence of IMA), as well as a lack of trust in own required management skills and technical know-how. On the other hand, positive evaluation of IMA benefits and its main use as a risk mitigating strategy were the main enablers. The logit regression analysis indicated that perceived suitability of the pond to integrate IMA and availability of technical assistance were the factors most important to adoption, explaining respectively 30% and 26% of adoption. To enhance adoption of IMA and reduce the need for new pond excavation in mangrove stands, tailored technical training and social learning opportunities are required to increase awareness of IMA and its potential benefits, as well as for effective IMA management. Additionally, the development of new market opportunities for novel mangrove products is vital to foster incentives for adoption. Further work is needed on how to maximize the potential of IMA by thorough study of its various implementation options.

Commercialisation, exogenous shocks and nutrition: Evidence from smallholder farmers in Bangladesh

AbstractThis study empirically analyses the effect of agricultural commercialisation on food spending and nutrition outcomes in Bangladesh. We examine whether exposure to exogenous climate shocks moderates these relationships. We construct individual‐level nutrition measures and time‐varying climate extremes using nationally representative panel data. To address endogeneity concerns, we use an instrument variable approach. Results show that commercialisation leads to an improvement in the broad nutritional profile of individuals. However, the commercialisation–nutrition linkage is weaker for households exposed to frequent climate shocks than those in climate‐resilient areas. Importantly, climate shocks dampen the positive nutritional impacts of commercialisation and exacerbate existing inequalities in the nutritional status within the households. Women and girls appear disproportionately vulnerable to the nutrition‐weakening effects of weather stresses in commercialised agricultural households. This highlights twin policy challenges: strengthening smallholders' resilience to escalating climate risks alongside promoting gender‐equitable, nutrition‐sensitive agricultural commercialisation.

Climate-smart agriculture and food security in climate-vulnerable coastal areas of Bangladesh

The issue of global climate change is increasingly worrisome, particularly for countries heavily reliant on agriculture. To reduce the negative impact of climate change on agriculture, farmers of Bangladesh started adopting different climate smart agriculture (CSA) practices. The CSA sustainably increases productivity, resilience, and food security, which can contribute to the achievement of a number of sustainable development goals (SDGs). However, the adoption of CSA is low especially in the climate-vulnerable coastal areas of Bangladesh. Therefore, this study was conducted to identify the factors affecting the adoption of CSA and its influence on coastal household’s food security. A total of 327 sample farmers from three coastal districts of Bangladesh were interviewed. The collected data were then analyzed by using the binary probit and ordered probit model. The findings indicated that highest 65% of farmers adopted early planting of rice as one of CSA practices. The adoption of CSA practices positively affected by the household annual income, extension services and awareness regarding CSA practices. Moreover, the adopters of CSA were more food secure than non-adopters. For instance, adoption of one additional CSA practice leads to an increase in the likelihood of being food secure by 4.3%. In terms of policy perspective, the adoption of CSA in the coastal areas can be increased through creation of employment opportunities, increasing access to extension services, and broadcasting of CSA-related programs on mass media.

Farmers' Insights on the Migration from Rural to Urban Areas in Bangladesh

This research uses a qualitative methodology to investigate the complex dynamics of rural-urban migration among Bangladeshi farmers via in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. The main objectives are to determine the main causes of migration, comprehend the difficulties farmers have when migrating, and evaluate the effects of migration on their communities and means of subsistence. According to the research, three main factors influence migration: social goals, environmental concerns, and economic incentives. Numerous obstacles, such as unstable work, skill gaps, excessive living expenses, and subpar housing, negatively impact the well-being of migrant farmers. Notwithstanding these obstacles, migration offers chances for greater access to services, skill development, and economic progress. The results underline the need for all-encompassing policy interventions, stressing the significance of job assistance, training programs, and sustainable rural development projects to help migrant farmers. To improve the resilience and well-being of migrant farmers and their communities, this study offers policymakers practical suggestions for creating more inclusive and prosperous migration policies.

Application of nano-urea in conventional flood-irrigated Boro rice in Bangladesh and nitrogen losses investigation

Bangladesh stands third in global rice production while complete modernization of rice production is not fully enforced. The boon of nano agriculture might circumvent the challenge of increasing the yield with minimal ecological damage. Nanofertilizer might be one of the solutions to address the problem of modern agriculture confronting environmental hazards owing to the excessive use of synthetic fertilizers by farmers in Bangladesh. We synthesized nanourea by chemical co-precipitation (CP) and hydrothermal (HT) methods in an attempt to develop environmentally friendly nanofertilizers. We characterized the nanourea and confirmed the functionalization of nanohydroxyapatite (nHAP) with urea by scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM)/EDS mapping. The CP method produced particle dimensions of 45.62 nm for length and 14.16 nm for width. In comparison, the readings obtained through the HT method were around 74.69 nm and 20.44 nm for length and width, respectively. The field application of nanourea demonstrated impressive results, indicating a significant relationship between the particle size of nanourea and its impact on several agricultural factors. The grain yield using traditional synthetic fertilizer (urea) ranged from 6.47 to 6.52 t ha−1 with a very low NUE of 35.8–36.34 %. Contrarily, the grain yield was found from 6.52 to 6.84 t ha−1 and the obtained NUE ranged from 57.58 to 71.0 % using nanourea of the same concentration calibrated with traditional urea by two methods. Additionally, nanourea treatments having 25 % less nitrogen (N) provided higher total N (TN) in grain suggesting possible nutritional enrichment while checking the yield penalty and substantial increase in N use efficiency (NUE). However, further upscaling of this research on a field scale is necessary to confirm the findings.

Impact of climate-smart agriculture practices on multidimensional poverty among coastal farmers in Bangladesh

Climate-smart agriculture technology helps safeguard crop income from climate change-induced crop loss. Here we identify the factors determining the adoption of climate-smart agriculture and the impact of its adoption on multidimensional poverty among coastal climate-vulnerable farm households. We employ full information maximum likelihood estimation under the endogenous switching regression approach to account for counterfactual scenarios. Results indicate that the decision to adopt climate-smart agriculture is influenced by crop vulnerability, crop income, access to extension service, and training on input management. The current adopters of climate-smart agriculture experience a 41-percentage point reduction in multidimensional poverty compared to if they had not adopted this technique. Likewise, if the current non-adopters adopted climate-smart technology they could reduce poverty by 15 percentage points. Findings also claim that some specific climate-smart technologies are particularly effective in reducing poverty, providing valuable information to coastal farmers in making informed decisions about which technologies may be effective.

Pesticide knowledge and attitude among the potato growing farmers of Bangladesh and determinant factors.

The study aimed to assess the extent of pesticide use among potato-growing farmers in Bangladesh and its relationship with their knowledge, attitude, and socio-demographic characteristics. Data were collected from 553 farmers using a semi-structured questionnaire through multistage random sampling. Bivariate analysis was conducted to examine the relationship between the frequency of pesticide use and various socio-demographic factors. Results showed that out of 321 different pesticide brands reported, 50.5% were registered, while 47.7% were unregistered and 1.9% were banned. Among the registered pesticides, 5.6% were highly hazardous, 24.8% were moderately hazardous, and 6.2% were slightly hazardous as per World Health Organization category. A high percentage (96%) of farmers reported using pesticides in their fields, with 16.6% applying pesticides more than five times in a cropping season. Data revealed that majority of the farmers were aware of the negative effect of pesticides on health and environment. Most farmers used hand towels (77.9%) and ordinary shirts (70.0%) to cover their bodies to avoid pesticide exposure. Inappropriate disposal of empty pesticide containers was also observed. Negative binomial regression analysis revealed significant positive associations between the frequency of pesticide application and potato productivity, rate of fertilizer application, area of land owned by farmers, and their knowledge about the negative effects of pesticides on human health. The study suggests adopting integrated pest management practices, developing pest-resistant potato varieties, ensuring safe handling practices and disposal as well as stringent enforcement of laws to mitigate pesticide externalities and hence ensure sustainability in agriculture.

Climate-resilient aquatic food systems require transformative change to address gender and intersectional inequalities

The adverse impacts of climate change on aquatic food systems (AFS) and the people who depend on AFS for livelihood security are inequitably distributed between and within countries. People facing the highest risks and experiencing the severest impacts of climate change are those who already experience multidimensional inequalities in their lives, particularly because of their gender, class, age, indigeneity, ethnicity, caste, religion, and the physical and political conditions that can create additional vulnerabilities. In this paper, we conducted a scoping review of the literature that explores the links between climate change, gender, and other social identities, and AFS. The review was complemented by an analysis of representative data on women and men aquaculture farmers in Bangladesh from 2018 to 2019. We also analysed data from the 2019 Illuminating Hidden Harvest project. The study relied on the gendered agrifood system and aquatic food climate risk frameworks to guide on literature search, review, and data analyses. Our findings show that intersecting identities disadvantage certain AFS actors, particularly young women from minority ethnic groups, and create challenge for them to manage and adapt to climate shocks and stresses. Examples of gender-responsive and transformative interventions are highlighted from our review to showcase how such intersectional disadvantages can be addressed to increase women’s empowerment and social and gender equality.

The impact of extension delivery through private local service providers on production outcomes of small-scale aquaculture farmers in Bangladesh

ABSTRACT Purpose This study delves into the effectiveness of local service providers (LSP) in improving production outcomes of small-scale aquaculture farmers in Bangladesh. Design/methodology/approach To gauge the effectiveness of LSPs, the research employs a performance-based assessment approach, focusing on 1653 fish farming households distributed across four different participation levels. Essentially, it compared quantifiable variables like the number of species cultured, productivity, proportion of fish sold and revenue metrics of the LSP-trained farmers against a control group that has not received training from LSPs. Data analysis was conducted with Multivalued Treatment Effects (MTE) estimated using an augmented inverse-probability weighting method that allows for heterogeneous treatment effects. Findings Findings revealed that farmers who received the LSP extension training exhibited a significant increase in all outcomes compared to their counterparts. The LSP extension participating farmers are more likely to adopt better management practices like improved feeding routines, dike constructions, pond cleanliness, and fish growth monitoring. Practical implications LSP extension model with enhanced capacity can be a catalyst for improved production of small-scale aquaculture farmers. Theoretical implications This study contributes to a research agenda related to the efficiency of emerging pluralistic extension service systems that favors decentralization, privatization, and outsourcing of extension service, and their capability to enhance the production outcomes of small-scale farmers. Originality/value This study addresses an important research gap in the agricultural extension literature, which is the value-for-money of Local Service Providers, and their capability to enhance the production outcomes of small-scale farmers.

Enhancing safe vegetable cultivation through capacity development: Exploring the need for low-external-input utilization among farmers in Bangladesh

Excessive use of agrochemicals in vegetable cultivation has led to several problems, including serious health and environmental issues. Therefore, farming with low-external inputs (LEIs) is inevitable for enhancing safety and security. Thus, the study investigates the need for capacity building on low-external-input techniques, identifies factors that may influence the need for capacity building, and explores the challenges faced by vegetable farmers while using low-external inputs for vegetable cultivation. The study, conducted in Daudkandi and Sherpur Upazila of Cumilla and Bogura districts, involved 400 farmers surveyed face-to-face using a structured questionnaire. The findings revealed that 69% farmers acknowledged a pressing need for capacity development in LEI practices. Factors such as education, family income, training participation, social mobility, extension agent engagement, and food safety awareness were found to significantly influence the need for capacity building. In addition, key challenges faced by farmers during LEI adoption included inadequate technical expertise, suboptimal results, and insufficient method demonstrations. Extension officials are encouraged to prioritize the identified capacity-building needs and emphasize the dissemination of agrochemical-related information to vegetable farmers to prevent input dealers from promoting their use. These measures can empower farmers to adopt safe and sustainable LEI practices, enhancing both vegetable quality and environmental health in Bangladesh.

State and potential of digital financial services among farmers in Bangladesh: An in-depth study

Technologies like digital mobile services have a greater role in societies, particularly among agricultural communities for financial transactions. Keeping this in mind, the current study investigated the present status and potential of digital financial services (DFS) among farmers in Bangladesh. A total of 400 farmers were interviewed directly through a random selection to assess the present status and conducted 30 KIIs for potential. The study utilized a mixed-method approach, incorporating quantitative analysis via the Relative Importance Index (RII) and qualitative analysis through transcriptions. It was found that 87.3% of the farmers use DFS, with bKash being the most popular platform. However, the use of DFS was relatively limited when it comes to farm transactions. In case of farm's electricity bill payments, the number of responses was higher compared to other items. Furthermore, the study highlighted that farmers have lower satisfaction level with DFS than cash in case of farm transactions. This is due to the fact that farmers perceive using DFS for financial transactions as very difficult, which is compounded by a lack of knowledge on PIN changes (70.5%) and familiarity with terms and conditions (72%). Additionally, 42.86% of farmers reported experiencing scams, a higher prevalence compared to other issues. In such instances, farmers lodged complaints with agents but did not receive satisfactory resolutions. Therefore, the study suggests to implement user-friendly DFS interfaces tailored for agricultural use, initiate farmer-focused financial literacy programs, enforce robust security measures, and establish a regulatory framework for DFS integration into agriculture.

Analysis of the climatic trends and heat stress periods for ruminants rearing in Bangladesh

The production of ruminant livestock is greatly impacted by climate change, as it is anticipated to jeopardise food security due to the increasing heat stress experienced by the animals, which can be measured using the Temperature Humidity Index (THI). The objective of our study was to analyze climatic patterns, identify influential variables and evaluate heat stress episodes through the utilization of the THI to establish a rearing system for ruminants in Bangladesh. The THI value was determined by analyzing meteorological station data spanning from 1995 to 2022 across various climatic zones in Bangladesh. The Mann–Kendall evaluation was used to analyze the THI patterns throughout the study. Our findings indicated that heat stress problems are expected to occur in Bangladesh when THI for ruminant rearing exceeds 74, particularly from February to December. The severity of heat stress in THIruminant 71–90 varied significantly, ranging from normal to extremely severe. We observed that June (90) was the hottest month in the west central region, while January (71) was the coldest in the northwest area. When examining the impact of climatic factors on the THI, we found that air temperature has the highest influence, while relative humidity had the second-highest influence on THI in all areas of Bangladesh. Sunlight length and wind speed influenced the yearly THI marginally but not seasonally. Our findings highlighted a seasonal threat associated with heat stress in the climatic conditions of Bangladesh. It is essential to identify heat stress in ruminants, especially considering the continuing global warming issue. Our results recommend the implementation of heat stress mitigation strategies for ruminant farmers in Bangladesh.

Agronomic monsoon onset definitions to support planting decisions for rainfed rice in Bangladesh

The usability gaps between climate information producers and users have always been an issue in climate services. This study aims to tackle the gap for rice farmers in Bangladesh by exploring the potential value of tailored agronomic monsoon onset definitions. Summer aman rice is primarily cultivated under rainfed conditions, and farmers rely largely on monsoon rainfall and its onset for crop establishment. However, farmers’ perception of the arrival of sufficient rains does not necessarily coincide with meteorological definitions of monsoon onset. Therefore, localized agronomic definitions of monsoon onset need to be developed and evaluated to advance in the targeted actionable climate forecast. We analyzed historical daily rainfall from four locations across a north-south gradient in Bangladesh and defined dynamic definitions of monsoon onset based on a set of local parameters. The agronomic onset definition was evaluated in terms of attainable yields simulated by a rice simulation model compared to results obtained using conventional meteorological onset parameters defined by the amount of rainfall received and static onset dates. Our results show that average simulated yields increase up to 7 – 9% and probabilities of getting lower yields are reduced when the year-to-year varying dynamic onset is used over the two drier locations under fully rainfed conditions. It is mainly due to earlier transplanting dates, avoiding the impact of drought experienced with early monsoon demise. However, no yield increases are observed over the two wetter locations. This study shows the potential benefits of generating “localized and translated” climate predictions.

Living with technological drought: Experience of smallholding farmers of Bangladesh

Technological drought is caused by a lack of irrigation technology and a poor water management system. Here we present and analyse the results of a large survey of farmers in Bangladesh, designed to reveal their experience of and attitudes to, as well as factors and challenges of technological drought management. Also, we analysed the impact of water sources and the role of irrigation development to mitigate the technological drought taking North Bengal of Bangladesh as a case study. To explore the nature and characteristics of technological drought, we have used both qualitative and quantitative data from the study area. We used Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to find out the underlying dimensions and factor loadings of the technological drought using the field data. Moreover, we compared the relations and associations between socio-demographic, water source characteristics and technological drought perceptions. PCA results indicated seven underlying dimensions (challenges) out of thirty-one factors of technological drought related to river water management, irrigation technology, socio-economic conditions, land use, and electricity and fuel supply. The high population, lack of modern irrigation technology, upstream management problems, inefficiencies in the system, electricity connections, load shedding, and poor socio-economic conditions prevent people from getting the water they desperately need in the case study area. We also found a significant relationship between farmers’ socio-demographic and water source characteristics with technological drought perceptions. Although there has been increasing use of irrigation technology and improved water resource management in recent years, it is essential to highlight that there will likely be more challenges in the future if this trend continues.

Can information constraints explain the low efficiency in premium quality rice cultivation? Evidence from smallholder farmers in Bangladesh

AbstractThe integration of smallholder farmers into emerging value chains for fine‐grain and aromatic ‘premium quality rice’ (PQR) could prove to be crucial to improving rural livelihoods in Bangladesh, though efforts could be constrained by farmers' differing levels of agronomic knowledge. Based on a pre‐analysis plan, we analyse farmers' ability to efficiently allocate production enhancing inputs in PQR cultivation based on a survey of 1420 farmers in key PQR producing areas. Farmers received a hypothetical budget to allocate to six different inputs advised for efficient production of PQR, mimicking familiar production decisions made seasonally on their own farms. Our results suggest that even without budget or input access constraints farmers tend to inefficiently allocate inputs in PQR in this hypothetical setting. In particular, they tend to overspend on seeds, fertiliser and pesticides. Farmers with better access to agricultural information, such as through PQR specific extension services, conversely reach substantially higher efficiency scores and decided to spend significantly less on fertiliser. Without future adjustments such as more targeted extension services, implied higher production costs will likely lower the profitability of PQR cultivation for smallholder farmers, thereby limiting potential income gains. Besides these economic concerns, excessive input use is associated with environmental externalities. Improved efficiency is therefore desirable from both an economic and environmental standpoint.

The performance of Climate Information Service in delivering scientific, local, and hybrid weather forecasts: A study case in Bangladesh

Access to reliable and skillful Climate Information Service (CIS) is crucial for smallholder farmers in Bangladesh to mitigate the impacts of rainfall variability and extremes. This study aims to systematically evaluate the performance of CIS in providing Scientific Forecast (SF) and Local Forecast (LF) to smallholders in Bangladesh. The results were then compared with farmers’ perceptions of the forecast accuracy. Additionally, the skill of a simple hybrid forecast (HF), which is an integrated system of SF and LF, was assessed using the ERA5 and ground observation datasets as benchmarks. The SF and LF data were obtained from the meteoblue hindcast and from the interview, respectively. The results indicate that, overall, LF exhibits slightly higher skill compared to SF when evaluated against the ERA5 dataset. The forecast performance, however, declines by almost half when the ground-based observations are used, associated with high false alarms. Farmers, on the other hand, perceived SF to possess superior performance compared to LF. This study demonstrates that combining the SF and LF into a simple HF yields higher forecast skill than either individual forecast, highlighting the importance of HF to deliver a reliable and trustworthy weather forecast.

Yield Performance of Binadhan-24 Over Two Selected Locations in Bangladesh

Boro is the most important cereal crops in terms of production to the farmers in Bangladesh. An experiment was conducted to examine the suitability and productivity of two rice varieties cultivating in Boro season. The experiment was consisted of Binadhan-24 and BRRI dhan58 and it was conducted at the farmer’s field of Mymensingh and Kishoreganj districts from December, 2022 to May, 2023. The experiment was performed in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Higher yield (7.03 tha-1) was recorded in Binadhan-24 compared to the variety BRRI dhan58 (6.53 tha-1). A higher day to maturity was found in BRRI dhan58 (152.50 days) compared to the varieties Binadhan-24. The highest effective tiller hill-1 (24.90) and number of filled grain panicle-1 (142) were recorded in Binadhan-24 where in BRRI dhan58, effective tiller hill-1 and number of filled grain panicle-1 were 22.19 and 136.80 respectively. Higher 1000 seed wt. (24.38 g) was found in Binadhan-24 compared to another variety. And the maximum yield potential (7.03 tha-1) was recorded in Binadhan-24. This experiment will be useful to select Boro genotypes with high yield potential and future breeding stock in area specific suitable locations and all over the world.

Factors of negative psychic state, anxiety, and depression of waterlogged farmers in Bangladesh: A farming disaster

Farmers undergo severe mental pressure due to socioeconomic crises during waterlogging. This study explores the factors of mental agonies of waterlogged farmers. It was a quantitative study, and a survey research design was employed. Data were collected from 480 waterlogged farmers from March to May 2023 based on simple random sampling. A five-point Likert scale for negative psychic states and a four-point Likert scale for anxiety and depression were used to understand the measurement of the mental health state of the farmers. Data were analyzed with descriptive and inferential statistics such as the Mann-Whitney U and the Kruskal-Wallis H tests to indicate the differences in negative psychic state, anxiety, and depression of the waterlogged farmers. The study revealed that 99% of the farmers were worried, nearly 72% were anxious about heavy rainfall, and more than 81% fell asleep while working during waterlogging. The negative psychic state of the farmers was moderate (19-29), anxiety was high (12≥), and depression was mild (≤7). Aged farmers were more nervous (z = -5.93) and tired (z = -5.08). Farmers living in Kaccha houses were found to be more restless (H = 15.89). Anxiety with heavy rainfall (z = -9.23) was more prevalent among those farmers who suffered from waterlogging for 6 months a year. Farmers who suffered ≤6 months of waterlogging (z = -5.41) were more depressed with poor appetite. Different types of psychosocial health problems (i.e., anxiety and depression) were prevalent among the waterlogged farmers, and heavy rainfall, living houses, and duration of waterlogging assisted these. The opportunities for employment and arrangements for medical treatment during waterlogging should be available for them. GO-NGO intervention can alleviate the waterlogged farmers' vulnerable situations.

Knowledge and handling of pesticide by the retailers in the north-eastern part of Bangladesh

Application of pesticides is an accessible practice against different insects and pest of a wide ranges of crops in Bangladesh Pesticide retailers are involved to recommend and sale of pesticide to the farmers in Bangladesh. A comprehensive survey was conducted to retailers and farmers in six Upazilas of two districts of north-eastern part of Bangladesh using structured questionnaire. To collect data, 54 retailers and 150 farmers were interviewed using simple random sampling method focusing on the information related to the knowledge and experience on pesticide and pest management with farmer’s attitudes towards pesticide retailers. Retailing business is being conducted by only male (100%) and 85.2% of retailers was involved in personal business. Regardless of their educational status, the retailers engage in agrochemical industries where 94.5% retailers got the registration from UAO. It was observed that 31.5% of retailers have higher secondary education followed by secondary (25.9%) and primary (18.5%). Surprisingly, only 1.9% of retailers completed a diploma course on pesticide where maximum (68.5%) received a short training that organized by Agriculture Office and different pesticide companies. Moreover, 20.4% of retailers did not participate in any kind of training while 42.6% attended short training. The facilities like standard safety measures, first aid kit, and firefighting equipment are not available in most of the retail shops, although 22.2% of shops have poor storage facilities. According to 81.5% retailers, pesticide applications have been increasing over the last 5 years. The overall scenario demonstrates the devastating and inappropriate use of chemical pesticides without proper knowledge and guidelines. It also represents the dominancy of pesticides applications over IPM. Long-term training of the retailers and strong monitoring of their practices is essential.