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The results of a survey of pesticide use and management practices among 252 farmers Egyptian farmers in the Ismalia governorate in the Nile Delta of Egypt were discussed. The farmers, who typically cultivated plots of 2 hectares or less, completed a questionnaire to provide information about their pesticide use and practices, attitudes toward using pesticides in agriculture, their understanding of the relationships between pesticide use and potential health risks, and protective clothing use. Most (79%) of the farmers viewed pesticide use as a guarantee of high crop yields. At least 80% of the subjects were aware that pesticides were potentially dangerous. Most (60.3%) of the farmers took care to store pesticides properly, either in a locked cabinet or locked room. Approximately 23.8% did not store pesticides, but used them immediately after purchase. Despite being aware that pesticides were harmful, 23.8% of the farmers reported cleaning the pesticide containers and using them again. Approximately 40.5% reported throwing the used containers away into canals that provided irrigation and household water to rural areas. Most (83.7%) reported observing the interval between the last spray and harvest. More than half of the farmers (58.3%) reported not using protective clothing when spraying pesticides. Of those who used protective clothing, most used a combination of a scarf and boots. Only 7.7% reported using gloves. The author concludes that this survey shows clearly that a gap exists between the farmers' awareness of potential health hazards from pesticides and their use and management habits.
Ambio, 25(6):425-426, 1996. (7 references)
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