A Study on Farmers Knowledge, Perception and Intensity of Pesticide Use in Vegetable Cultivation in Western Uttar Pradesh

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1 Pusa AgriScience Vol. 32, 63-69, 2009 A Study on Farmers Knowledge, Perception and Intensity of Pesticide Use in Vegetable Cultivation in Western Uttar Pradesh Mahantesh, N. + and Alka Singh* Division of Agricultural Economics, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi Abstract Pesticides have substantially contributed for controlling of pests and increasing crop yields. But over the years there is growing concern about indiscriminate use of pesticides in agriculture. This paper attempts to understand the farmers knowledge and perceptions of pests and pesticide use in vegetable cultivation and analyzes the pesticide use practices and the intensity of pesticide use in vegetable cultivation. The result shows that on an average 41 per cent of the farmers were aware about pesticide hazards in vegetable cultivation. Most of the farmers (88 per cent) perceived that frequency of insects and disease infestation has increased over the past 10 years. It was also observed that farmers have not followed adequate safety measures regarding pesticide application. The high pesticide use cost was observed in vegetables especially in tomato and brinjal and most of the pesticides belonged to high and moderate risk chemicals. Increasing farmers awareness of pesticide hazards to the environment and promotion of alternative pest management strategies such as use of bio-pesticides and IPM is essential for reducing adverse effect on environment. Key words: Pest intensity, IPM, pesticide risk, pesticide use in vegetables Introduction Pesticides have substantially contributed for controlling of pests and increasing crop yields. But over the years there is growing concern about indiscriminate use of pesticides in agriculture. The consumption of chemical pesticides in agriculture went up from 2,350 metric tones (technical grade) in to 75,033 metric tones (MT) in , and subsequently declined to 39, metric tones in The recent statistics on consumption of pesticides (technical grade) for the year shows that Uttar Pradesh is the leading consumer of pesticides (6672 MT) followed by Punjab (5610 MT), Haryana (4560 MT), West Bengal (4250 MT) and Maharashtra (3198 MT). The intensive cultivation of high yielding varieties, monoculture of commercially important crops, overlapping of cropping seasons + Part of the Ph.D. dissertation submitted to the Post Graduate School, IARI, New Delhi * Corresponding author and excessive application of agro-chemicals have further aggravated the incidence of pests and diseases A study in Philippines, showed that the farmers spend as much money on health care as they do on the pesticides themselves. The study concludes that for rice production, when health costs factored in, the natural control ( do nothing ) option is most profitable and useful pest control strategy (Antle and Pingali, 1994). Thus, pesticide use has resulted in various socioeconomic and environmental implications. The Western Uttar Pradesh is considered to be the most progressive and is characterized by rice-wheat and sugarcane production systems and is well endowed with efficient network of irrigation system. The mono-cropping and high cropping intensity have accentuated the pest problems, depleting ground water and worsened soil quality in many of these areas. The profitability from these crops is dwindling in the region (Joshi et al., 2006).

2 64 Mahantesh and Singh Visualizing the importance of these issues, the present study therefore, is an attempt in this direction and likely to highlight various issues relating to pesticide usage in vegetable production. The specific objectives of the study were to (1) study the farmers knowledge and perceptions of pests and pesticide use in vegetable cultivation; and (2) analyze the pesticide use practices and the intensity of pesticide use in vegetable cultivation. Methodology The study envisaged various types of primary as well as secondary data pertaining to different facets associated with pesticide usage in crop production in the study area. The primary data relating to various issues involved in pesticide usage like, knowledge of farmers about pest management, perceptions of the kind and frequency as well as severity of pests and diseases, sources of information, awareness of farmers with regard to toxicity level of pesticide, safety measures followed during pesticide application, quantity and frequency of pesticides used etc. were collected. Besides this, the various socio economic parameters such as educational qualification, landholding, along with information related to various inputs used, price of inputs and outputs were collected. The two districts of Western Uttar Pradesh, namely Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddh Nagar were purposively selected for the study because of commercial cultivation of vegetables and nearness to Delhi metropolitan market. Four leading vegetables like Potato, Tomato, Cabbage and Brinjal were selected for detailed investigation. The sample blocks of Hapur and Razapur from Ghaziabad, Bisruk and Dadri from Gautam Buddh Nagar were selected, as the selected vegetables are extensively grown in this region. In the second stage, from each selected block, two villages were selected, and twenty-five farmers from each village were selected randomly making a total sample size of 200 for the study. Analytical Framework A clear understanding of farmers knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding pesticide use is the first step towards understanding the reasons for overuse of pesticides by farmers. In order to have a better insight into farmers pest management practices in crop production, a detailed examination of farmers pest control practices, intensity and composition of pesticides used, sources of information of pesticide use and decision criteria on pesticide application at farm level was conducted. The average quantity, number of applications and expenditure incurred on each category of pesticides (insecticides, fungicides and herbicides) per hectare was calculated for each of the vegetable crop separately. In addition to this, information regarding pest enemies, sources of information on pesticide use, toxicity levels, storage, disposal, application practices, sprayer maintenance, safety measures followed etc were also probed at farm level. Percentages and averages were computed and compared to draw meaningful inferences. Results and Discussion Farmers knowledge of pest management It was observed that vegetable cultivating farmers in the study area were aware of various issues related to pest management. On an average 41 per cent of the farmers were aware about pesticide hazards in vegetable cultivation. In case of Ghaziabad, about 42 per cent and in case of Gautam Buddh Nagar about 40 per cent of the farmers know about hazards of pesticide use. The knowledge about pest enemies, IPM practices, biopesticides and awareness about recommended level of pesticide use was also examined. Almost 28 and 30 per cent of sampled respondents were aware of IPM practices and use of bio-pesticides respectively indicating their willingness to move towards safer pest control measures, which is a good sign for environmental friendly farming. But only few farmers (9.75 per cent) know about the recommended level of pesticide use in vegetable cultivation, indicating their lack of knowledge regarding dosage level and ignorance about excess use (Table 1). As per the farmers knowledge about pest management was concerned, the sample farmers

3 Study of Vegetable Farmers in Western Uttar Pradesh 65 Table 1. Farmers knowledge about pest management Particulars Ghaziabad Gautam Overall Buddh Nagar Know about pesticide hazards Know about the pest enemies Heard about IPM practice Know about bio-pesticides Know the recommended level of pesticide use of Gautam Buddh Nagar had better awareness compare to that of Ghaziabad farmers, reflecting the difference in educational level and innovativeness. Sources of information on pest management Farmers were accessing pest management information in many ways. Hence, development of any outreach programme can benefit the farmers, by understanding which method is most commonly used by them. Farmers obtained the information on pesticide use from multiple sources (Table 2). In the survey conducted, it was found that about 36.5 per cent of respondents were mainly dependent on the advice of pesticide Table 2. Sources of information on pest management Sources of Ghaziabad Gautam Overall information Buddh Nagar Fellow farmer/ friends/ relatives SAU personnel / State Deptt. of Agric/ ICAR Institute Pesticide dealers/ company representatives dealers, followed by public extension system / SAU personnel (27 per cent) as well as information from fellow farmer/friends (13 per cent). The inter comparison of the two district shows, Gautam Buddh Nagar had better access to authentic information, such as SAU personnel / State department of agriculture (32.5 per cent) compare to Ghaziabad (21.0 per cent), showing the innovativeness as well as higher educational level of farmers in that district (Table 2). Farmers perception of the kind and frequency of pests in vegetables over the past ten years In the study area, farmers perceptions about the kind and frequency of insect and diseases over the past 10 years were examined. Most of the farmers in both Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddh Nagar districts were perceived that frequency of insects (88.5 per cent) and disease (87 per cent) infestation had increased over the past 10 years in vegetable cultivation. In case of Gautam Buddh Nagar, where tomato and brinjal crops were selected for the study, the increasing trend of insects (92 per cent) was observed compare to Ghaziabad (85 per cent). But regarding disease prevalence, Ghaziabad (88 per cent) had greater increasing trend compare to Gautam Buddh Nagar (86 per cent), as the potato crop was greatly affected by late blight and early blight diseases in the region (Table 3). It was not surprising that only few farmers (2.5 and 1 per Table 3. Farmers perception of the kind and frequency of insect and diseases over the past 10 years Particulars Ghaziabad Gautam Overall Buddh Nagar Insect No changes Declining Increasing Disease No changes Declining Increasing

4 66 Mahantesh and Singh cent respectively) perceived declining trend of insects and diseases over the past 10 years. This shows the development of resistance in insects and diseases, due to excess and ignorant application of pesticides in vegetables causing economic losses to the farmers as well as damage to the environment. Farmers perception on severity of pests in vegetable cultivation during study period There are various insects and diseases which occur in the selected vegetables in the study area. The farmers perception on severity of insects and disease in the vegetables was examined on 3 criteria namely slight, medium and heavy (Table 4). Table 4. Farmers perception on severity of insects and diseases in vegetables during the study period Crops Pest Severity of insect and diseases Slight Medium Heavy Cabbage Insect Disease Potato Insect Disease Tomato Insect Disease Brinjal Insect Disease The severity of insects and disease varies among the crops. In case of potato, almost all the farmers (95.5 per cent) were of the same opinion that there was heavy severity of disease. This is because the blight disease, which is the most damaging on potato crop, made the farmers to perceive it as most severe. Whereas in case of cabbage and brinjal, farmers perceived that heavy severity of insects (80.5 per cent and 84 per cent respectively) as the diamond backmoth in cabbage and brinjal fruit borer in brinjal was severe in the study area. In case of tomato, most farmers perceived the severity of insect as medium (65 per cent) and disease severity as heavy (72.5 per cent) as both insect and disease severity is prevailing in tomato. Pesticide safety and storage practices Farm pesticide components were artificially introduced into and generally incompatible with agricultural ecosystems. When applying pesticides, only about per cent of them are absorbed by the crops; the rest are left in the environment (Huang, 2000). From the survey it was found that most of the farmers (79 per cent) placed the pesticide bottles in a special location inside their houses where it would be difficult for children to reach (Table 5). The remaining 21 per cent placed the bottles in unsafe places such as on the ground or mixed with other kinds of bottles without any safety measures. Compare to the farmers of Ghaziabad (72 per cent), the Gautam Buddh Nagar farmers took more precaution (82 per cent) regarding safe storage of pesticide after purchase, due to their greater awareness of health safety. Farmers disposal of empty bottles was also a safety concern. A sizeable number of farmers (46 per cent) adopted safe disposal methods like crushing/burying in the soil (Table 5). However, 41.5 per cent of sampled farmers Table 5. Pesticide storage, disposal and application practices by farmers Particulars Ghaziabad Gautam Overall Buddh Nagar Pesticide storage after purchase Safe storage Unsafe storage Disposal of pesticide containers In field Sold/reuse Crushed/buried in soil Safety measures used by applicants Use of face masks/ hand gloves Wash hands with soap Sprayer use practices Use after wash Wash rarely or never wash

5 Study of Vegetable Farmers in Western Uttar Pradesh 67 Table 6. Basis of application of chemical pesticides by farmers Basis of application Ghaziabad Gautam Buddh Nagar Overall Own determination of the pest infestation level Standard practice/history of insect problems Extension guidelines for infestation thresholds Local information (other farmers, radio, TV etc.) disposed the empty bottles in the field and outside the house. It was also observed that, 29 per cent of the sample farmers sold or reused the pesticide containers. When applying the pesticides, the main safety measures employed by pesticide applicants were use of face-masks/hand gloves, and washing of hands with soap. In the survey, it was found that 34 per cent of the farmers had used facemasks/hand gloves and rest of the applicants did not use any safety measures like face-masks/ hand gloves. This increases the probability of exposure to poisoning by contact and health hazards. The applicant who did not use face masks reported the uncomfortability to wear as it results in sweating, and breathing problem. But majority of the farmers (75 per cent) had washed their hands with soap after pesticide application. Regarding sprayer use practices, majority of the farmers (62 per cent) have washed their sprayers after every use (Table 5). But still more than onethird (38 per cent) did not wash the sprayer after use. The farmers of Gautam Buddh Nagar were more cautious (64 per cent) about sprayer wash than the farmers of Ghaziabad (60 per cent). Overall, the result shows that still farmers has to take more precautionary and safety measures to keep their health as well as environment in good state. Farmers Decision criteria for pesticide application The most important decision criteria followed by sample farmers to initiate pesticide application was, the farmers own determination of the pest infestation levels (45.5 per cent) in all the vegetables (Table 6). Next to this, about 24 per cent of farmers regarded pesticide application as standard practice or as calendar basis. The farmers were also relied upon extension personnel (21.5 per cent) to know about infestation level before going for pesticide application in vegetables. But around 14 per cent of total respondents were also took decision based on local sources of information comprising fellow farmers, and media sources. Nearly one-fourth of sample farmers in Gautam Buddh Nagar district were consulted extension personnel compare to 18 per cent of Ghaziabad farmers, reflecting their awareness and access to authentic source of information. Intensity and composition of pesticide use in vegetable production The intensity and composition of pesticide use was examined by considering the quantity of pesticide use along with the cost of pesticide in each vegetable in the study area. The quantity of insecticides and fungicides use varies among the four selected vegetables. In the survey it was found that, the insecticide consumption was highest in case of tomato (2.32 kg a.i./ha). This result correlates with the earlier observation of farmers perception of severity of insect on tomato crop (Table 7), where nearly 93.5 per cent of farmers felt that the severity of insect in tomato was medium to heavy, due to the problem of tomato fruit borer in the study area. Whereas, the consumption of fungicides was highest in case of potato (2.25 kg a.i./ha). As stated earlier, depending upon the quantity of pesticide used, price and type of pesticide used the cost of insecticide and fungicide and hence the total pesticide cost varied among the four selected vegetables. Another indicator

6 68 Mahantesh and Singh Table 7. Quantity of pesticide use in vegetable cultivation (Kg a.i./ha) Particulars Potato Tomato Cabbage Brinjal Insecticides Fungicides Total Table 8. Cost of pesticide use in vegetables Crops Particulars Cost (Rs./ha) Potato Insecticides Fungicides Total Tomato Insecticides Fungicides Total Cabbage Insecticides Fungicides Total Brinjal Insecticides Fungicides Total of intensity and composition of pesticide use was cost of pesticide use in vegetables. The overall cost of pesticide used in vegetables varies depending upon the type of and quantity of pesticide used and price of that particular pesticide. With this in view, the highest pesticide cost was found in tomato (Rs. 2187/ha) (Table 8). This was because the earlier result of highest quantity of pesticide use in tomato (3.90 kg a.i./ ha), and the use of costly pesticide such as dichlorovas, endosulfan, ridomill, cypermethrin, mancozeb, monocrotophos etc. This was followed by the cost of pesticide in Brinjal (Rs. 2054/ha), cabbage (Rs. 1613/ha) and Potato (Rs. 1093/ha). Cost of plant protection in vegetable production The per hectare cost of pest control, the unit cost of pest control and percentage share of pestcontrol cost in total cost was worked out. The unit cost of pest control which indicates the amount required for pest control per quintal of output, was found to be highest in case of tomato (Rs /qtl) due to higher pesticide cost and least in case of potato (Rs. 6.96/qtl) due to less cost of pesticides compare to other crops (Table 9). The percentage share of pest control cost in total cost also found to be highest in case of tomato (20.10 per cent), due to greater cost of pesticides used, while it was least in case of potato (5.74 per cent). Thus, the result shows that cost of pest control as one of the important determinant of cost of cultivation and the profitability of the vegetable production in the study region. Conclusion It was observed that farmers had limited knowledge of pest management as well as the consequences of pesticide use in vegetable cultivation. Farmers perceived that over the years the severity of pests is increasing and greater quantities of pesticides required for controlling pests. It seems that farmers have not followed adequate safety measures regarding pesticide application. The high pesticide use cost was observed in vegetables especially in tomato and brinjal and most of the pesticides belonged to high and moderate risk chemicals. The pest control cost accounts sizeable proportion to the total cost and the unit cost of pest control was found to be highest in case of tomato followed by cabbage, brinjal and potato. Increasing farmers awareness of pesticide hazards to the environment and Table 9. Cost of plant protection in vegetable production (Rs/ha) Particulars Potato Tomato Cabbage Brinjal Cost of pesticides Cost of pest control Unit cost of pest control (Rs./qtl) % share of pest control cost in total cost

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