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PRACTICES AND KNOWLEDGE ON ENVIRONMENTAL AND HEALTH HAZARDS OF FARM PESTICIDE USE

Kenneth D. Barrientos

AKLAN STATE UNIVERSITY-IBAJAY CAMPUS College of Hospitality and Rural Resource Management

Ibajay, Aklan

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PRACTICES AND KNOWLEDGE ON ENVIRONMENTAL AND

HEALTH HAZARDS OF FARM PESTICIDE USE

Kenneth D. Barrientos

ABSTRACT

The study was conducted to find out the practices and knowledge on environmental and health hazards on farm pesticide use by rice farmers in the seven agricultural barangays in the Municipality of Ibajay, Aklan. Data were collected from the 99 rice farmers and 76 barangay officials from January to February 2013 using an interview schedule translated in the Aklanon dialect to elicit information.

Results showed that the respondents were mostly males, 43 years old, married, and finished secondary education. Most of the farmers were landowners with an average size of 1 ha. irrigated farmland. They had participated in local governance and members of associations. All farmers used insecticides to control rice pests. Most of them safely applied pesticides using knapsack sprayer, wore long-sleeves, long pants and face mask. They stored pesticides safely by burying empty pesticide containers and some were burned. Farmers acquired their knowledge on pesticides from the Agricultural Technologists of LGU Ibajay assigned in the municipality. The health problems experienced associated with pesticide mishandling were skin rashes, redness of skin, discoloration of toe nails, shortness of breath, vomiting, itching of eyes ,and blurred vision. Generally, farmers had knowledge on the environmental and health hazards of pesticides. Keywords: Pesticides knowledge, Practices, Environmental hazards, Health

hazards, Pesticide use

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INTRODUCTION

Pesticides are important agricultural input used to eliminate pests and

ensure increase rice production. However, studies shows that the unsystematic

use of pesticides had resulted to ecological imbalances of farming system,

worsening pest problems and creating harmful effects on environment and

human health (Oczon, 2012; Rola and Pingali, 1993). Kedia and Palis (2008)

revealed that the farmers lack of awareness and limited knowledge on the

dangers of using pesticides were due to their difficulties to comprehend the

complex agrochemical label instructions and health safety information of the use

of pesticides.

Rice farming is one of the major sources of income in the municipality of

Ibajay, Aklan. Ibajay has a total population of 45,279 (Census of population and

Housing, 2010) with 25 barangays engaged in rice farming. Most of the farmers

attended trainings and seminars in rice production. However, increased

production was given much attention rather than health and safety of farmers on

the use of pesticides. Hence, this study attempted to examine the practices and

knowledge of rice farmers on environmental and health hazards due to pesticide

use.

Statement of the Problem

The study aimed to determine the practices and knowledge on environmental and health hazards of pesticide use in the municipality of Ibajay. Specifically, the study aimed to answer the following questions:

1. What is the socio-demographic and economic profile of the respondents in terms of age, gender, educational attainment, marital status, number of children, number of years in farming, total area of farmland, type of farm, ownership of land, source of farm input, average rice production per cropping, and participation in local governance and associations?

2. What are the kinds of pesticides used by the farmers?

3. What are the practices adopted in handling, application, and disposal of farm pesticides?

4. What are the sources of knowledge on pesticides?

5. What are the symptoms associated with mishandling pesticides?

6. What is the knowledge of the respondents on the environmental and health hazards of using pesticides?

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METHODS

Research Design

The study used descriptive-survey method. The design described the characteristics or behavior of the respondents.

Locale of the Study

The municipality of Ibajay has 35 barangays and only seven barangays

were selected in the study considering the (a) highest hectarage of irrigated fields and (b) highest number of registered farmers. These barangays were Agbago, Aquino, Batuan, Laguinbanwa, Maloco, Naile, and Naisud.

Respondents of the Study

The respondents of the study were the 99 rice farmers and 76 barangay

officials of the seven barangays (Table 1).

Table 1. Number of respondents

Barangays Population (N) Sample size

1.Agbago 126 13

Brgy. Officials 11 11

2. Aquino 132 13

Brgy. Officials 11 11

3. Batuan 120 12

Brgy. Officials 11 11

4. Laguinbanwa 130 13

Brgy. Officials 11 11

5. Maloco 136 14

Brgy. Officials 11 11

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Table 1. Continued…

6. Naile 174 17

Brgy. Officials 11 11

7. Naisud 174 17

Brgy. Officials 10 10

Total 992 99 76

Sampling Techniques

The sampling technique used in the study was the stratified/proportionate

random sampling with a random start.

Research Instrument

An interview schedule was used to get the needed information from the 99 farmers and 76 barangay officials. The interview schedule was translated in the Aklanon language to be easily understood by the respondents. Most questions asked were based from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (1991) regarding safe pesticide use.

Data Gathering Procedure

The researcher secured an approved letter from the Municipal Mayor of Ibajay to administer the interview schedule. Assistance from the Barangay Captains were also solicited prior to the conduct of the interview.

Data Analysis Procedure

Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency count,

percent, rank and mean.

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RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Socio-Demographic and Economic Profile of the Respondents

Age. Almost 50 percent of the respondents were young adults with mean age of 43 years old indicating middle age.

Gender. Most (83 percent) of the respondents were males and only 17

percent were females. Civil Status. Most or 80 percent of the respondents were married. Educational attainment. Nearly 50 percent of the respondents finished

secondary education and tertiary education. This indicates that they can read and comprehend the labels and instructions in the containers of pesticides.

Number of children. The result of the study showed that farmers had 3-4 children.

Number of years in farming. Farmers were working on the field for nearly 31 years while a few of them had 21-25 years farming experience.

Source of farm input. Almost all the respondents had loans from relatives and lenders as source of farm inputs for farming activities.

Average rice production per cropping. The study showed that 36 percent of the farmers harvested between 21- 35 cavans per cropping and only very few farmers harvested between 36-50 cavans. This is a low harvest considering the average of 1 hectare of farmland.

Hectares. Almost half of the respondents (47 percent) were farming one

hectare of riceland, followed by 28 percent farming half hectare and 13 percent farming 1.5-2 hectares, respectively.

Land Ownership. Majority (63 percent) of the farmers were tenants and

only 37 percent farm owners. Seminars attended. Most of the respondents (77 percent) had attended seminars on the proper handling of pesticides while few (23 percent) had never attended at all.

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Table 2. Socio-Demographic and Economic Profile of the Respondents

Profile Number Percent

Demographics

Age*

15-24 years (Young) 38 21.71

25-40 years (Young adult) 82 46.86

41-64 years (Middle adult) 50 28.57

65-above years (Adult) 5 2.86

Total 175 100.00

Mean Age = 43 years old

Gender

Male 146 83.43

Female 29 16.57

Total 175 100.00

Civil Status

Single 24 13.71

Married 150 85.71

Widow 1 0.57

Total 175 100.00

Highest Educational Attainment

Elementary 23 13.14

Secondary 78 44.57

Tertiary 74 42.29

Total 175 100.0

Number of Children

None 34 19.43

1-2 37 21.14

3-4 65 37.14

5-6 35 20.00

7-above 4 2.29

Total 175 100.0

Number of Years in Farming

1-5 years 19 15.08

6-10 years 15 11.90

11-15 years 13 10.32

16-20 years 23 18.25

21-25 years 14 11.11

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Table 2. Continued…

26-30 years

18

14.29

31-above years 24 19.05

Total 126 100.0

Socio-Economic

Source of Farm Input

Salary/Honoraria 16 12.70

Loans 59 46.83

Personal 51 40.48

Total 126 100.00

Average Rice Production/cropping

6-20 cavans 39 30.95

21-35 cavans 46 36.51

36-50 cavans 5 3.97

51-65 cavans 8 6.35

66-80 cavans 11 8.73

81-up cavans 17 13.49

Total 126 100.00

Hectares of Farmland

0.5 hectare 35 27.78

1 hectare 59 46.83

1.5 hectares 16 12.70

2 hectares and above 16 12.70

Total 126 100.00

Land Ownership

Farmer/owner 47 37.30

Tenant 79 62.70

Total 126 100.00

Type of Farming

Irrigated 72 57.14

Rainfed 54 42.86

Total 126 100.00

Seminar Attended

Have Attended 97 76.98

Not Attended 29 23.02

Total 126 100.00

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Kinds of Pesticide Used

Table 3 shows the different kinds of pesticide applied by the respondents.

It showed that all of them applied insecticides on the field (rank 1) followed by molluscicides. Only 69 among them used fungicides (rank 4).

Table 3. Kinds of pesticides used by the respondents.

Kinds of Pesticides use* Number Rank

Insecticides 126 1

Molluscicides 118 2

Rodenticides 84 3

Fungicides 69 4 *multiple response Practices on Pesticide Handling, Storage, Application and Disposal

Pesticide handling and storage practices. Table 4 shows the different practices of handling and storage of pesticide containers by the respondents. Out of the total 126 respondents, 115 of them separates pesticides from groceries (rank 1) followed by keeping it away from the reach of children (rank 2). Only 56 of them do not stored pesticides together with any volatile materials to avoid the chance of explosion or fire.

Table 4. Handling and storage of pesticide containers by the respondents.

Handling of Pesticides* Number Rank

Bagging pesticides away from groceries 115 1

Storing pesticides in locked and labeled cabinets

93 4

Putting pesticides on its original containers

101 3

Storing pesticides separately from other volatile materials

56 7

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Table 4. Continued…

Keeping storage area dry and well ventilated

81 5

Keeping pesticides away from children’s reach

102 2

Stored pesticides with intact and readable labels

79 6

*multiple responses

Methods of pesticide application. Most farmers were spraying pesticides using the recommended knapsack sprayer (Piston-pump knapsack sprayer) which ranked first (Table 5). However, there were still respondents that practiced broadcasting of granular insecticides.

Table 5. Methods of pesticide application by the respondents.

Methods of Application* Number Rank

Using Knapsack Sprayer 114 1

Broadcasting 21 2

Pesticide disposal practices. Table 6 indicates the farmers’ disposal

practices of empty pesticide containers. Majority of the farmers buried their empty pesticide containers on the ground near their houses at a depth of 1-2 meters (ranked 1). Some farmers reported that they burned the containers (rank 2); left the containers in the field (rank 3), and few threw it away in the garbage or anywhere else. The practices indicate that some farmers are less cautious on the effects pesticide in the environment. Table 6. Disposal practices of empty containers by the respondents.

Disposal Practices* Number Rank

Garbage bins 7 4

Burying in the soil 104 1

Left in the field 33 3

Table 6. Continued…

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Burning 36 2 Washing and reusing at home 1 5 Thrown in the river 1 5 Thrown anywhere 1 5

Protective Gears Worn by the Respondents Nearly half of the farmers wore protective gears like wearing long-sleeved shirt, face mask and long pants (Table 7). This was followed by those wearing hat with brim, face mask, long-sleeved shirt, rubber gloves and long pants. However, others never wear any protective gears when spraying pesticides. Table 7. Protective gears worn by the respondents.

Protective gears worn Number Percent

Complete protective clothing (Hat with brim, goggles, face mask, long-sleeved shirt, rubber gloves, protective boots, and long pants)

3 2.38

Hat with brim, face mask, long-sleeved shirt, rubber gloves and long pants

32 25.40

Hat with brim, face mask, long-sleeved shirt, rubber gloves, protective boots, long pants

9 7.14

Long-sleeved shirt, rubber gloves, long pants 14 11.11

Face mask, long-sleeved shirt, long pants 57 45.24

Hat with brim, long-sleeved shirt and long pants

8 6.35

No protective gears 3 2.48

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Table 7. Continued…

Total 126 100.00

Sources of Knowledge on Pesticide Use Table 8 indicates the farmers’ sources of knowledge on the use of pesticides. The most common source of information came from the Agricultural Technologists of LGU-Ibajay assigned in the barangay (rank 1). This was followed by personal experience through the years of farming (rank 2). Few others reported that it came from pesticide dealers. Table 8. Sources of pesticide knowledge by the respondents.

Sources* Number Rank

Through experience 67 2

From specialist 19 4

Agricultural Technologists 68 1

Product label 52 3

Pesticide dealers 13 5

*multiple responses Symptoms Associated with Mishandling Pesticides

The respondents reported that they had experienced dermal symptoms brought about by the mishandling of pesticides (Table 9). These symptoms include skin rashes, redness of skin, and blackening of toe nails. Some also experienced respiratory problem like coughing and shortness of breath.

In terms of neurological problems, it was reported that they experienced

headaches (rank 1) and fatigue (rank 2). Gastrointestinal problem was exhibited by vomiting and salivation. There were also reports that some farmers had ophthalmic problems like itching of the eyes and blurred vision. Few famers admitted that they suffered abdominal pain after spraying pesticides.

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Table 9. Symptoms associated with mishandling pesticides.

Symptoms* Number Rank Dermal

Skin rashes 91 1 Redness of skin 44 2 Excessive sweating 18 3 Blackening of the toe nails 3 4

Respiratory

Coughing 21 1 Shortness of breath 12 2

Neurological

Headache 65 1 Fatigue 21 2

Gastrointestinal

Vomiting 10 1 Salivation 4 2

Ophthalmic

Eye itching 44 1 Vision disturbance (temporary

blurredness) 15 2

Systemic

Abdominal pain 11 1 *multiple responses Knowledge on the Environmental and Health Hazards of Pesticide Use Table 10 summarizes the responses of the respondents on environmental and health hazards associated with pesticide use.

Hazards on soil. Majority or 63 percent of the respondents agreed that

pesticide causes soil’s acidification, compaction and decreased quality brought about by continuous use of pesticide. Only 37 percent of the farmers had no idea about the hazardous effect of pesticides. This shows that many of them are aware of the ill-effects of pesticides on soil.

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Hazards on air. Majority (70 percent) of the respondents were knowledgeable on the pesticide hazards on air like pollution, acid rain build-up, etc. Few (30 percent) had no idea at all.

Hazards on water. Majority or 63 percent of the respondents agreed that continuous use of pesticide will contaminate bodies of water responsible for pollution, affects ground water through leaching, etc. Thirty-seven percent disagreed to the idea on the hazardous effect of pesticides on water.

Hazards on humans and living organisms. Majority or 65 percent of the respondents affirmed that continuous use of pesticide could kill human and other non-target living organisms. It also creates pest resistance. Only 35 percent had no idea on the hazards posed on humans and other living organisms.

Table 10. Knowledge on environmental and health hazards of pesticide use.

Hazards

Responses

Yes % No %

Environmental Hazards

Hazards on Soil

Toxic chemicals harm earthworms

and soil microbes. 140 80.00 35 20.00

Excess toxic chemicals accumulates

in soil 127 72.57 48 27.43

Pesticides accumulate on soil but

harmful to crops. 104 59.43 71 40.57

Pesticides affects the acidity of the

soil 108 61.71 67 38.29

Soil became compacted 102 58.29 73 41.71

Pesticide decreases the soil quality 121 69.14 54 30.86

Pesticides prevent higher water

retention. 75 42.86 100 57.14

Average 111.00 63.43 64.00 36.57

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Table 10. Continued... Hazards on Air Pesticides contribute to air

pollution. 153 87.43 22.00 12.57

With pesticides use, disease could

occur. 143 81.71 32.00 18.29

Pesticides contribute to acid rain

buildup. 96 54.86 79.00 45.14

Pesticides affect the ozone layer. 98 56.00 77.00 44.00

Average 122.50 70.00 52.50 30.00 Hazards on Water

Pesticide residues contaminate

bodies of water. 158 90.29 17 9.71

Pesticide is responsible for water

pollution. 139 79.43 36 20.57

Pesticide contributes to the

proliferation of algae. 59 33.71 116 66.29

Groundwater could be affected by

pesticide leaching 111 63.43 64 36.57

Pesticides can accumulate on the

bottom sediments of rivers, lakes,

streams, etc.

86 49.14 89 50.86

Average 110.60 63.20 64.40 36.80

Health Hazards

Hazards on Humans and Living Organisms

Pesticides can kill birds, insects

and others. 148 84.57 27 15.43

Pesticides could affect nontarget

organisms. 100 57.14 75 42.86

Pesticides can accumulate on the

body of organisms. 101 57.71 74 42.29

Pesticides can create pest

resistance. 106 60.57 69 39.43

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Table 10. Continued...

Pesticides affect the food sources

of human and animals. 118 67.43 57 32.57

Pesticides can lead to the migration

of animals. 111 63.43 64 36.57

Pesticides can cause abnormalities

on human and animals. 121 69.14 54 30.86

Pesticides could enter the human

body through skin, inhalation or

ingestion.

105 60.00 70 40.00

Average 113.75 65.00 61.25 35.00

CONCLUSIONS

1. Farmers were in their middle age, had secondary education, and married. They were tenant-farmers for 30 years farming with 1 hectare with an average production of 35 cavans. They also undergone seminars on rice farming but had limited knowledge on the proper handling and application of pesticides.

2. All the farmers used insecticides to control pests in rice.

3. Farmers sprayed pesticides using knapsack sprayer, wore protective clothing, stored pesticide in safe places, and buried empty containers near their houses.

4. Farmers had knowledge on the proper use of pesticides like handling, storage, application, and disposal of empty containers.

5. Farmers got the knowledge and information on the proper use of pesticides from the Agricultural Technologists of LGU-Ibajay.

6. Several symptoms were exhibited by farmers’ exposure to pesticides such as vomiting, itching of eyes and abdominal pains.

7. Farmers were knowledgeable about the ill effects of pesticides on soils, air and water including on humans and other living organisms.

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RECOMMENDATIONS

1. Farmers should be given continuous follow-up on training or seminars on the proper use of pesticides.

2. Technical assistance through the conduct of training and seminars on organic farming or Integrated Pest management (IPM) should be given to farmers to minimize the use of pesticides.

3. Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials such as videos, leaflets, flyers, comics, brochures should be made available to farmers emphasizing the proper use of pesticides for environment and health protection.

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LITERATURE CITED

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Indira Devi, P. (2009). Health Risk Perceptions, Awareness and Handling

Behaviour of Pesticides by Farm Workers in Kerala. Agricultural Economics Research Review Vol. 22 July-December 2009 pp 263-268. Available at http://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/pm6.pdf. Date retrieved: December 6, 2012

Kedia, Satish K. and F.G. Palis (2008). Health Effects of Pesticide Exposure

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Noble, S.H. (2012) Farm Pesticide Handling and Its Environmental Impacts as

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Oczon, J.D. (2012) Practices on Handling, Application and Disposal of farm

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Rola, A.C. and Pingali, P.L. (1993) Pesticides, Rice Productivity and Farmers’

Health: An Economic Assessment, International, Rice Research Institute, Manila, Philippines and World Resources Institute, Washington, DC, USA. Available at http://books.google.com.ph/Pesticides, Rice Productivity, & Farmers' Health: An Economic Assessment. Date retrieved: December 4, 2012.

http://www.census.gov.ph/sites/default/files/attachments/hsd/pressrelease/Weste

rn%20Visayas.pdf. Date retrieved: January 12, 2013