1 research outputs found
Pesticides Handling and Risks Associated with Cassava Production in Apoje Farm Settlement: Farmers’ Knowledge, Attitude and Perception
No full textThe study was carried out to evaluate the farmers’ knowledge, attitudes and perception of the pesticides handling, application, and residue on the cassava roots produced and associated health and environmental risk exposures factors among the farmers in Apoje Farm Settlement Ogun State Southwestern Nigeria. A total of twenty-five (25) cassava root samples produced on the farm were collected and analyzed for the presence of any residues while fifty (50) farmers were randomly sampled with the administration of structured questionnaires/interviews. The results obtained showed the detections of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB), Nitrate (NO3) and Hydrogen sulphide (H2S) with mean values of 0.01934mg/kg, 0.012564mg/kg and 0.00058mg/kg respectively that fall within the regulated limits. However, the knowledge of the farmers on pesticides handling and application are low, some cannot read the labels on the pesticides to understand the poison and hazards signs. Then, they exhibit poor attitudes and perceptions of health and environmental risks associated with the exposure to the pesticides. The majority of the farmers do not put on personal protective gadgets to prevent themselves from the exposures. The study concluded that there should be health talks organized for the farmers on the subject matter and there is an urgent need for resuscitations of farm extensions services where relevant government agencies support the local and semi-illiterates farmers given them adequate and necessary information on the handling and application of pesticides in order to reduce the risks to the farmers, the inhabitants, and the environment. Then, monitoring studies of human exposure, the soil and water bodies in the study area are required to evaluate the effects the pesticides
