Use or Mis-Use of Pesticides: Analysis of Knowledge, Use or Mis-Use of Pesticides: Analysis of Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of Farmers in the Caribbean Attitudes and Practices of Farmers in the Caribbean Use or Mis-Use of Pesticides: Analysis of Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of Farmers in the Caribbean

Submitted by Paulette Bynoe (PhD, MPhil, BA) and Denise Simmons (MSc, Postgraduate Diploma, BSc), University of GuyanaSubmitted by Paulette Bynoe (PhD, MPhil, BA) and Denise Simmons (MSc, Postgraduate Diploma, BSc), University of GuyanaSubmitted by Paulette Bynoe (PhD, MPhil, BA) and Denise Simmons (MSc, Postgraduate Diploma, BSc), University of Guyana

INTRODUCTION• Food safety has been given worldwide recognition

as a major concern since it impacts health.

• Food safety involves actions aimed at ensuring that all food is as safe as possible. Since food contamination can occur at any stage, from farm to table, good safety policies and actions need to address the entire food chain, (farm to fork model).

• Food contamination can be caused by microbial, chemical or physical hazards.

• Chemical hazards include toxic metals, poly-chlorinated, biphenyls and pesticides.

To assess farmers’ state of knowledge, attitudes and current practices (KAP) regarding the use of pesticides, and their exposure to these agrochemicals used on farms in selected communities in Guyana, St. Kitts/Nevis, St. Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago

OBJECTIVES OF THE RESEARCH

To determine the level of pesticide residues in tomatoes from farms in Guyana and Saint Lucia

To explore the relationship between level of pesticide residues in tomatoes from the selected farms and farmers’ KAP.

Methodology: Cross-Sectional Survey

15 communities were targeted in 4 countries -

2n= N/1+N (SE) using to determine sample size.

Total =737

Trinidad

and

Tobago

Saint

Lucia

Saint

Kitts/

Nevis

Guyana 327 44.4

7.7

9.1

38.8286

67

57

CountryNo. of

Farmers of Sampled

Percentage

of Sampled

Population

Quantitative and qualitative data were collected from 737 farmers, using piloted questionnaire.

Systematic sampling th(every n farm was

used to identify the farmers in each community)

METHODOLOGY: LABORATORY EXPERIMENT A purposive sampling

method was used.

10 farms in Black Bay and its environs, Saint Lucia.

11 farms in Parika, Guyana

9 farms in Black Bush Polder, Guyana

•Samples (1 kg of mature tomatoes in each case) were collected twice during the harvest period, based on a systematic and defined pattern (referred to as an ‘X’ pattern).

A multi-residue analysis based on fifty- two active ingredients (pyrethroids, organochlorine and organophosphorous pesticides) was utilised .

Types of Pests Pesticides Used

• Leaf borer

• Stem borer

• Weevil

• Pink mealy bug

• White fly

• Cricket

• Pin worm

• Army worm

• Mites • Grasshopper

• Karate

• Fastac

• Pestac

• Carbendazin

• Malathion

• Caprid

• Caprisan

• Gramoxone

• Monocrotophos

Variable Mean SD (variability) Kurtosis Comment

Age 4

13.4 0.354

Close to normal distribution

Areas of land under cultivation (acres)

7.7

13.8 42.0

Not normal; Guyana is avery large countrycompared to SIS

Number of years as farmer

20.6 12.4 -0.233 Almost normaldistribution

Number of years using pesticides

17.5 11.6

-0.292

Close to normaldistribution

Other : 82.1% = male farmers; 17.9% = female farmers (Guyana has highest percentage of female farmer).

RESULTSFarmers' Knowledge of Pesticides (7 questions related to dangers to humans and environment, pathways, and alternative pest control methods: Scores 0-7

Scores Indicators of Knowledge

Countries with highest scores within the specific category

Communities

0-3 low knowledge Saint Kitts

(accounting for 31.5%)

Mansion

4-5 medium knowledge

Guyana (accounting for 66.1%)

Naamyrck

6-7 high knowledge Saint Lucia(accounting for 35.8%) Black Bay

Scores Indicator of Attitudes

Countries within the specific category

Specific Communities

17-24 Positive (Correct)

Saint Kitts (98.2%)

Stapleton

9-16 Neutral Guyana (30.2%) Ruby

1-8 Negative (Wrong)

Guyana

Note: O nly 0.6 % (2) farmers displayed such an attitude as

repres. by score

Parika

Farmers' Attitudes regarding the Use Pesticides (8 questions on a scale which included both positive and negative) Positive: agree 3, no opinion=2, disagree = 1 and reverse for negative; scores varied from 1 -24 )

KAP STUDY Farmers' Practice of Pesticides Usage (8 questions related to frequency of application; knowledge of application, adherence to recommended dosage, use of protective equipment, etc. Scores: usually =4; sometimes=3; rarely=2; never =1 Scores range from 1-32

Scores Indicator of Practice

Countries within the specific category

Communities

23-32 Good practice

Trinidad

(73.0%) Freeport

11-22 Fair practice

Saint Kitts/Nevis (56.1%)

Mansion

<11 Poor practice Saint Lucia(6.0%)

Black Bay

Variables Statistic test Spearman’s rho

P value

Knowledge & Attitude

Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient

-0.103

(significance=.003)

0.05

Knowledge & Practice

Spearman’s rank correlation

coefficient

-0.083

(significance=0.13)

0.05

Attitude & Practice

Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient

0.164

(significance=0.000) 0.05

Inferential StatisticsThe association between knowledge and attitude; knowledge and

practice and attitude and practice

INFERENCES There is a weak inverse relationship between

knowledge and attitude (as in the case of Guyana).

There is a weaker inverse relationship between knowledge and practice, but it is not significant (as in the case of Saint Lucia).

There is a relatively strong positive relationship between attitude and practice: attitude positively influences practice (as in the case of Saint Kitts/Nevis).

Laboratory Results for samples taken from

Black Bay, Saint Lucia

Detectable pesticide residues were found in 3 of the 10 samples; and then in 4 of the 10 samples in the first and second sampling, respectively.

Pesticide residues that were present were:

cypermethrin < 0.2 mg/kg

profenofos < 10 mg/kg

permethrin < 1 mg/kg

All of the pesticide residues detected were below their Codex maximum residue limits (MRLs).

Laboratory Results for samples taken from

Parika, Guyana

In both the first and second sets of samples, pesticide residues were detected in 2 of the 11 (samples)

Pesticide residues that were present were: chlorpyrifos, cypermethrin, triazophos.

Pesticide residues were found above their Codex MRLs in 2 of first set of samples; and in 1 of

second set of samples:

cypermethrin (0.23 mg/kg as compared to MRL of 0.2 mg/kg)

triazophos (0.12 mg/ kg as compared to MRL of 0.01 mg/kg)

Laboratory Results for samples taken from Black Bush Polder,

Guyana

Pesticide residues were detected in 4 of the 9 samples; and then in 1 of the 9 samples during the first and second samples, respectively.

Pesticide residues that were present were: profenofos and cypermethrin

Pesticide residues were found above the Codex MRLs in 1 sample each in the first and second sets of samples:

cypermethrin = 0.23 mg/kg as compared to 0.2 mg/kg.

Results - exploration of relationship between the

level of pesticide residues and farmers, KAP

St. Lucia had the highest percentage (36%) of farmers with high level of knowledge relating to pesticides. Note: pesticide residues levels were below the MRLs.

In Guyana, in Black Bush Polder and Parika where pesticide residues showed higher levels than the MRLs, 24% and 18% of the farmers displayed low knowledge of pesticides, compared to 13% in Saint Lucia.

A higher percentage of farmers in Guyana had neutral and negative attitudes regarding the risks associated with the application of pesticides.

CONCLUSION Farmers' KAP with regard to pesticides use

vary within and across countries.

Practice does not necessarily change with an increase in knowledge.

Good practice increases with the correct attitude.

Abuse of pesticides in the targeted countries is minimal considering the MRLs ; however, percentage of samples that exceeded these levels is higher than percentages recorded by researchers from other developing countries.

No organochlorine pesticide residues were detected in samples analysed.

Periodic testing of crops for pesticides residues is necessary.

Need for increased knowledge on pathways of pesticide, IPM etc.

Monitoring by Extension Officers is vital .

More education (long term tool, using formal and non-formal

Experiential learning through demonstration more projects may change attitude and practice

Acknowledgements

CIFSRF CARICOM UWI-McGill Food Security Project for providing finance

Kristine Erskine for assisting in the training of enumerators

Communities of farmers in the Guyana, Saint Lucia, Saint Kitts/Nevis, and Trinidad and Tobago; and

Research Assistants (Michelle Astwood, Robin Singh, Kieron Murray and Denroy Browne)

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