CAVAC PEST MANAGEMENT ACTION RESEARCH FUND Examine the Negative Impacts and Financial Barriers in Pest Management among Farmers and Retailers Human Development Research Cambodia (HDRC) Present by: Chien Samphoas 17 January 2014
Project Objectives 1) To understand the knowledge and behavior in pest management among farmers. 2) To examine the storage and distribution behaviors among farmers and retailers. 3) To explore the negative impacts to human health and environment from inappropriate pest management. 4) To determine the effective interventions to decrease negative impacts. 5) To understand financial barriers to apply standard pest management among farmers.
Study Design The study design is cross-sectional by using In-Depth Interviews (IDIs) to collect the information from selected villages in Kampot and Takeo provinces. We have interviewed 40 farmers from the households in villages and 12 retailers of pesticides near the sampled villages.
Study Samples (1) randomly select two Operational Districts (ODs) within each province (2) randomly select two communes & 4 villages within each OD. Operational Backup Village Backup Village Province Commune Selected Village District #1 #2 Champei Champei Khvav Daeu Pou Angkor Trapeang Chey Tani Pral Ta Kok Reang Kampot Boeng Sala Khang Kaoh Svay Chres Tboung Chamkar Ph'aem Kampong Trach Damnak Kantuot Phnum Prey Kes Ou Slaeng Khang Cheung Damrei Sla Sla Kaeut Kanhchang a Roung Samraong Trea Saen Pheas Veaeng Doung Trapeang Trapeang Takeo Khpob Svay Ta Am Kranhung Kranhung Tram Kak Trapeang Ta Phem Ta T oem Ta Much Ampil
Results Part1. Retailers
Socio-demographics n % How old are you? < 30 years old 4 33.3 31 to 40 years old 2 16.7 41 to 50 years old 4 33.3 > 50 years old 2 16.7 T otal 12 100.0 What is your gender? Male 9 75.0 Female 3 25.0 T otal 12 100.0 How many years did you complete or have completed at school? Primary school 5 41.7 Secondary school 6 50.0 High school 1 8.3 T otal 12 100.0
Business Characteristics Almost all retailers have been in pesticide sales for more than two years. They are shop owners. About 96% are also selling other items at the shops, such as rice, animal feed, garlic, pepper, beverages, shoes, beer, etc. Most sell various pesticide mixes to kill weeds, aphids, worms, rats, crabs, and other insects. The pesticides are packaged in bottles, but not in plastic bags. About 90% said that they are living next to the shops, but the shop is separated from the living spaces.
Customer Profiles About 80% of the customers buying pesticides are local farmers living in the same village, and 20% come from outside the village. The retailers buy pesticides from big shops in the market and then sell to farmers in their villages. Almost 97% of retailers said that the pesticides or poisons are not expensive (only $0.75-1.25).
Pesticide Instructions and Storage About 80% said their suppliers never provide any educational materials in safe use to them. Almost 90% of the retailers told their customers how to protect themselves in handling pesticides, and how to mix the pesticide with water. They just tell customers to read the instructions on the bottle of the pesticide, but it is written in either Vietnamese or Thai. All the retailers said that they never sell the pesticide split or in portions, they sell it in the bottles or in the original pacakages they get it from the company.
Negative Impacts on Health and Environment Only 10% of the retailers said they have problems with their health, such as dizziness and vomiting. Most of them said they did not have health problems in their family, because they kept pesticides in a safe place. Two retailers said that some villagers used pesticides to commit suicide.
Results Part 2. Farmers
n % How old are you? < 30 years old 7 17.5 31 to 40 years old 8 20.0 41 to 50 years old 11 27.5 51 to 60 years old 13 32.5 > 60 years old 1 2.5 T otal 40 100.0 What is your gender? Male 35 87.5 Female 5 12.5 T otal 40 100.0 How many years did you complete or have completed at school? Never attend school 3 7.5 Primary school 20 50.0 Secondary school 11 27.5 High school 6 15.0 T otal 40 100.0 Do you have any household member who is younger than 13 years old? No 6 15.0 Yes 34 85.0 T otal 40 100.0 Do you have any household member who is older than 55 years old? No 24 60.0 Yes 16 40.0 T otal 40 100.0
Pest Management in Farming Experiences About 40% of farmers sprayed pesticides to kill weeds, insects, worms, crabs, and rats. They always use pesticides 2 to 3 times per season. When they used pesticides, 92% wore masks, gloves, long-sleeve shirts, and long pants. They sprayed from the up-wind location on the farm, or used plastic bags to cover their hands. Some also wore hats or eye-glasses. Some did not wear any protective gear if they only used small amount of pesticide or it wasn’t their ‘habit.’
Pest Management in Farming Experiences About 30% learned how to use pesticides from the seller. When they bought the pestiscides, they always ask how to use them and how to mix them with water. Many farmers learned from other experienced persons in their villages. Some said that NGOs with the local authority teach them how to use pesticides and methods to achieve better outputs from growing rice and vegetables.
Pesticide Purchases and Storage About 68% bought pesticides from the shop in the district or provincial market, and 26% bought them from a shop in their villages. They paid for it and did not get it for free. Some got it from NGOs. About 42% reported that the seller never told them how to use the pesticide or how to read the instructions on the label. If farmers didn’t know and asked them, the seller would tell them. Some of them can not read the instructions on the label, because it was written in Vietnamese or Thai.
Pesticide Purchases and Storage About 80.5% kept pesticides in plastic bags. They kept it away from their homes (about 10 meters). They tied it in the plastic bags and kept it away from children. Also hung it up in a high place in the shade. Sometimes kept it on the farm by hanging high up in a tree. They know about the poision in pesticides, so they do not allow small children get close to or touch the containers.
Pesticide Purchases and Storage Sometimes they cleaned the container with water and then threw it in the farm or small woods. Some buried the used containers in the ground. Some of them burned the containers. Almost 97% said the street collectors do not want to recycle them, because pesticide bottles are too small. They never heard that any company comes to take used containers back.
Negative Impacts on Health and Environment About 53% reported that pesticides affected mostly people who applied the pesticides. There are minor health problems, such as being too tired, itchy, dizzy, vomitting, and headaches after using the pesticide. About 33% have heard that their neighbor has been poisoned by the pesticide, but the problem was minor, such as dizzy, itchy, headaches, vomiting, and stomach problems. They applied the traditional ‘first aid’ by using white sugar, honey, or white sugar mixed with sour orange. Most of them said that their houses are around 5-8 km to the nearest doctor at health center or hospital.
Financial Barriers in Pest Management Everyone paid the seller when they bought pesticides. The seller sometimes agrees to take money late, but only for a delay of about 3-5 days. The price was different for use in rice and vegetable farms. They spent approximately $2-18 per season. The pesticide costs were about 1%-30% of their household expenses. It is not a major financial burden for them, because each season they spent a small amount of money on pesticides.
Conclusions we have observed some potential problems from the retailer interviews: Retailers do not have any printed use and safety instructions for the customers; Some retailers do not always read the pesticide use and safety instructions to customers; Labels on pesticide containers are usually written in Vietnamese or Thai; Some retailers also sell other merchandise (even food) along with pesticides and in the same store. There is no clear recycling procedure in place to collect used pesticide bottles from customers; Retailers only know about the ‘traditional’ first aid procedure.
Conclusions we have observed some potential problems from the farmer interviews: Farmers do not always receive pesticide use and safety instructions from the retailers; Farmers do not correctly use protective gear all the time; Farmers store pesticides too close to family members in the house; Farmers throw away used pesticide bottles without any cleaning procedure; Farmers apply the traditional ‘first aid’ by using white sugar, honey, or palm sugar mixed with sour orange.
Conclusions Detailed educational materials , and clearly printed Khmer labels , on pesticide use and safety should be set up for retailers and farmers. Clear and correct instructions regarding storage and disposal of pesticide containers should be distributed to farmers and families. Poison control and first aid training should be improved for farmers and their families in rural areas.
Recommend
More recommend
