Publication: Knowledge, Attitude and Practice on Pesticide Use among Vegetable Farmers in Madhyapur Thimi Municipality, Nepal: An Observational Study
Date
2025
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Nepal Medical Association
Abstract
Abstract
Introduction: Pesticides are groups of toxic chemical compounds designed to use for increased productivity by killing pest. Inappropriately handling of pesticides cause risk to targeted as well as non-targeted organisms and also humans. Consumption of the pesticides is increasing globally and in Nepal. The study aimed to study the existing knowledge, attitude and practices of pesticides use among vegetable farmers.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among vegetable farmers who had used pesticides in the past 12 months for their farming. A household survey was conducted among 395 farmers from January to April 2023 in Madhyapur Thimi Municipality. Ethical approval was taken from the Ethical Review Board, Nepal Health Research Council (Reference number: 1696). A semi-structured questionnaire was developed from literature review and expert advices. The data was collected through face-to-face interviews. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics using SPSS 20.
Results: The mean age of the farm workers was 50.73±11.1 years. Nearly three in ten (29.62%) were illiterate. Insecticide was the most common form (97.21%) of pesticides used and 89.87% farmers received information of pesticides from friends and family. A total of 88.1% farmers had never received training on pesticide use. A total of 90.12% farmers had knowledge that use of personal
protective equipment is necessary during pesticide application. However, only 33.41% farmers always used to wear proper personal protective equipment in practice. Headache was the most common (69.51%) health adverse symptom after pesticides application.
Conclusions: Our study shows that farmers have limited knowledge about pesticides and use them in unsafe ways.
Description
Rajan Suwal
Department of Integrated Basic Science, Patan Academy of Health Sciences, Lagankhel, Lalitpur, Nepal
Ajay Kumar Rajbhandari
Department of Community Health Sciences, Patan Academy of Health Sciences
Vijaya Laxmi Shrestha
Central Department of Public Health, Central Department of Public Health, Institute of Medicine
Mahima Bataju
Biochemistry, KIST Medical College and Teaching Hospital
Mahesh Sharma
Public Health Section, Health Service Division, Ministry of Social Development, Karnali Province Birendranagar, Surkhet
Bijay Khatri
Department of Public Health Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark