New Study Highlights the Importance of Pesticide Safety Knowledge in Promoting Protective Practices Among Farmers

As global temperatures rise and weather patterns become more unpredictable, crop diseases caused by pests are increasing, which could result in more pesticide use and greater health risks for farmers. While reducing pesticide use is essential for protecting health and the climate, it presents challenges in the context of global food security concerns and profit-driven agricultural practices. This brings attention to the critical issue of how pesticides can be used safely and appropriately to balance agricultural productivity with environmental and public health priorities.

A team of researchers investigated protective pesticide behaviors by asking farmers whether they use pesticides in limited amounts, wear appropriate personal protective clothing or equipment and change it after work, and avoid smoking or eating while handling pesticides. These behaviors are critical to minimizing health risks associated with pesticide use.

"What are the key factors that influence the adoption of protective pesticide behaviors? This is actually we wanted to study," says one of the researchers, Prof. Ghulam Mustafa.

Their survey of 385 fruits and vegetables farmers in Punjab, Pakistan gathered responses to questions assessing farmers’ pesticide knowledge, past health problems related to pesticide exposure, attitudes toward pesticide use and protection behaviors. The majority of respondents were aged between 31 and 35 years, had less than 10 years of farming experience, and held education levels below high school.

Prof. Mustafa explains, “Our research investigates how farmers’ pesticide safety knowledge, attitudes toward pesticide use, and prior health problems influence their adoption of protective practices.”

Specifically, the research team analyzed the relationship between pesticide safety knowledge and protective behavior among farmers. They also examined the role of farmers’ attitudes toward pesticide use, seeking to understand whether attitudes are shaped by knowledge and whether these attitudes play a critical role in adopting protective pesticide behaviors. Furthermore, they studied the role of past health problems in adopting protective pesticides behaviors.

Prof. Mustafa explains, “The results revealed that higher pesticide safety knowledge significantly enhances protective behaviors. We examined the underlying reasons and found that safety knowledge influences farmers’ attitudes toward pesticide use, which, in turn, encourages the adoption of safer practices. Additionally, our research shows that past health problems motivate farmers to adopt protective behaviors, and this effect is further increased when farmers possess higher levels of pesticide safety knowledge.”

The study underscores the urgent need for targeted interventions in developing and underdeveloped countries to enhance pesticide safety practices. By improving farmers’ knowledge about pesticide risks, fostering positive attitudes toward safety measures, and utilizing their personal experiences with health issues, policymakers can significantly boost the adoption of protective pesticide behaviors. Furthermore, considering the environmental impact of pesticide misuse, such as soil and water contamination, policies should prioritize sustainable pest management practices. Integrating environmental considerations into pesticide safety training can help minimize the ecological footprint of agricultural activities and promote more environmentally responsible farming in developing and under-developing countries like Nepal.