Knowledge and Practice of Farmers on Pesticide Pre-Harvest Interval and Pre-Entry Period and Personal Protective Equipment Use in Vegetable Growing Area of South Gondar, Ethiopia

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the personal protective equipment use, understanding of farmers on pre-harvest interval, and pre-entry period for pesticides on different vegetables after pesticide application in south Gondar, Ethiopia. Sixty-three farmers were randomly selected and interviewed using a questionnaire. The majority of the farmers were not aware of the negative effects of pesticides on their health and the environment if not well handled. The farmers did not have awareness about the pesticide pre-harvest interval period and they did not read the instruction. Similarly, none of the respondents, followed the instruction of the manufacturer (reentry time specified on pesticide label) to reenter the sprayed field. Furthermore, farmers in the study area do have not enough awareness or they are careless regarding PPE use. Unavailability, inconvenience PPE wearing (e.g. mask affect breath properly), misperception about pesticide long term health effect and cost of personal protective equipment were raised as major causes for different farmers as factors behind their pesticide handling without personal protective equipment. It is recommended that If farmers can not to read the period of reentry on the pesticide container label, it is advised to wait at least 72 hours after the last application.

Keywords: pesticide Pre-harvest interval period, re-entry time, personal protective equipment

DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/11-23-02

Publication date: December 31^st 2021