Pesticide Use Patterns among Samll-scale Farmers

In this study, 130 small-scale farmers were surveyed regarding pesticide use patterns in rural Phitsanulok, northern Thailand using a structured questionnaire administered via personal interviews and an observational checklist of farmer pesticide storage practices. The survey was conducted during December 2007-January 2008. The results indicate pesticides are readily available and widely used in crop production. This includes the use of endosulfan which has been banned by the Thai government since 2004. Overall, pesticide use was inappropriate. Farmers did not wear suitable personal protection, apply pesticides in an appropriate fashion, or discard the waste safely. They frequently relied on commercial advertisements for the best pesticide to use. Pesticide use patterns among small-scale farmers in Thailand need improvement. Educational interventions are essential for promoting safety during all phases of pesticide handling. Public policies should be developed to encourage farmers to change their pest management methods from chemical based to methods that are healthier and more environmentally friendly. ment. Along with the green revolution policy of the Thai government, the use of pesticides has skyrocketed over the past 40 years (Health Systems Research Institute, 2005,). In 2002, the amount of pesticides consumed in the country was 39,904 metric tons of active ingredient (World Health Organization, 2006). The heavy use of pesticides has resulted in various negative health, environmental and economic consequences (Koh and Jeyaratnam, 1996; Satoh and Hosokawa, 2000). National statistics indicate that, in 2006 alone, 1,251 Thai citizens were occupationally poisoned by pesticides (Department of Disease Control, 2007). This number has been criticized by many non-governmental organizations as beeing too low due to INTRODUCTION Thailand covers about 513,000 km2 and has a population of about 63 million citizens. Of these people, 64.1% live in rural areas. With the exception of Bangkok’s highly concentrated industrial sector, Thailand’s major source of income and occupation is agriculture. Agricultural contribution to the total GDP was approximately 11% in 2001. In recent years, concern has been growing that improper agro-chemical use can create hazards for humans and the environSOUTHEAST ASIAN J TROP MED PUBLIC HEALTH 402 Vol 40 No. 2 March 2009 incomplete records being kept regarding incidence. For example, the estimated pesticide poisoning cases by Green World Foundation were 5,000-7,000 in 2005 (Green World Foundation, 2005). Pesticide exposure and residues were found to be correlated with various ailments among Thai people (Issaragrisil et al, 1997; Jirachaiyabhas et al, 2004). Past environmental studies found pesticide contamination of the soil and water throughout the country (Thapinta and Hudak, 2000; Boonyatumanond et al, 2002; Zarcinas et al, 2004). This contamination has resulted in the reduction of natural insect habitats, earthworms, micro-organisms and cover crops. Pesticide residue in agricultural products has not only affected the health of consumers, but has caused the rejection of exported goods, which can lead to economic damage to the country (Health Systems Research Institute, 2005). To promote appropriate use of pesticides, it is critical to understand the current use of pesticides among small-scale farmers, who are the majority of the Thai agricultural labor force. Until now, there have been no published reports regarding the actual behavior of small-scale farmers regarding pesticide use patterns. For this reason, this study was conducted to explore pesticide use patterns among small-scale farmers in Phitsanulok, Thailand. MATERIALS AND METHODS The study was carried out in Phitsanulok, which is located in northern Thailand and covers a total area of 10,815.854 km2. This is mainly a rural province where the population heavily depends on rice, horticultural (fruits and vegetables), and field (corn and soy) crop production. The majority of these produces are sold on the national market or exported. The survey sites were selected based on the proportion of full-time small-scale farm populations, cooperation from local leaders, and the willingness of farmers to participate. The study protocol was approved by Naresuan University’s Ethics Committee. The data were collected by means of a structured questionnaire administered via personal interviews. The data collected included the farmers’ demographic information, farm system and practices, and pesticide use practices. The farmers’ pesticide storage practices were investigated by means of a checklist. The instruments were content-validated by an agricultural extensionist and two community development experts, and pretested with farmers in the nearby area who did not participate in the final survey. The survey was conducted during December 2007-January 2008. Descriptive statistics, such as relative frequencies, were calculated for each question.