Pesticide training in Guinea builds knowledge but doesn't make farmers dispose of chemicals safely
Pesticide Safety
Knowing which garden and farm chemicals are rated most hazardous, and how to dispose of leftovers, keeps runoff out of the soil, streams, and pollinator habitat around you.
Researchers asked farmers and pesticide sellers in southern Guinea how they buy, use, and throw away farm chemicals. About two thirds of farmers used at least one highly hazardous product. Training taught people more, but it didn't reliably change how they got rid of leftovers, while farmers who got advice from sellers were far more likely to dispose of chemicals safely.
Key Findings
65% of farmers reported using at least one WHO Class Ib pesticide (cyfluthrin 52%, abamectin 13%).
Only 42% of farmers and 41% of sellers had formal training; trained farmers scored 3.51 vs 1.42 on knowledge, and trained sellers 3.36 vs 1.75 (p < 0.001), but training did not significantly improve safe disposal (p = 0.164 and p = 0.200).
Each additional year of farmer age lowered the odds of safe disposal (OR = 0.89, p = 0.004), while relying on sellers for information raised the odds about 19-fold (OR = 19.16, p < 0.001).
chevron_right Technical Summary
A survey of 141 farmers and 24 pesticide sellers in Guinea found that most farmers use highly hazardous pesticides, and training boosts knowledge without making disposal safer. Sellers turned out to be the key link, so reaching them could cut pesticide risks to people and the environment.
Abstract Preview
Original paper
Multi-scale risk factors for unsafe agrochemical handling and environmental exposure in Guinea
Abstract In Sub-Saharan Africa, the availability of highly hazardous pesticides on local markets and their extended use by non-trained farmers pose severe threats to human and environmental health....
open_in_new Read full abstractAbstract copyright held by the original publisher.
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