farmers in Kitui and Kirinyaga Counties, Kenya Mary Mutinda Mwanzau Environmental Legislation and Management in the Jomo Kenyatta University of

Transcription

1 Evaluation of knowledge and practices on pesticide use among small scale cotton farmers in Kitui and Kirinyaga Counties, Kenya Mary Mutinda Mwanzau A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment for the Degree of Master of Science in Environmental Legislation and Management in the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology 2011

2 DECLARATION This thesis in my original work and has not been presented for a degree in any other University. Signature Date Mary Mutinda Mwanzau This thesis has been submitted for examination with our approval as University Supervisors. Signature Date Prof. Thiong o G.T JKUAT, Kenya. Dr. Joyce Njenga (Deceased) JKUAT, Kenya. Signature Date Mrs. Margaret Gichuhi JKUAT, Kenya. ii

3 DEDICATION To my parents, Joseph Mwanzau and the late Esther Mwanzau and my daughters, Nicole Mwende and Evelyne Nduku. iii

4 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Special thanks to my supervisors Prof. Thiong o and Mrs. Gichuhi and late Dr. Njenga who passed on towards completion of my work, for their encouragement, advice and intellectual input afforded me towards the completion of this work. I also wish to thank my Employer, the Ministry of Agriculture for financial support and for granting a study leave to undertake the studies. I am grateful to cotton farmers in Chuluni and Mwea districts for volunteering the much needed information for the research, the District Agricultural Officers Kitui and Kirinyaga Counties, as well as research assistants; Mr. Ronald Muli and Wellington Kavoi from Chuluni district and, Mr. Obadia Mwangi and Mr. Mutura from Mwea district for the assistance in data collection. My sincere gratitude goes to my friends who shared worth ideas towards my research work and encouragement in the course of my study and to the Almighty God for granting the opportunity, strength and resources. iv

5 TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION... ii DEDICATION... iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS... iv TABLE OF CONTENTS...v LIST OF TABLES... xiii LIST OF FIGURES... xiii LIST OF PLATES... xv LIST OF APPENDICES...xvi LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS... xviiii ABSTRACT... xviii CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION Research Background Statement of the Problem Justification of the Study Hypothesis General Objective Specific Objectives of the study Research Scope.5 v

6 CHAPTER TWO LITERATURE REVIEW Definition of Pesticide Classification of Pesticides Pesticide Production and Consumption Farmers Knowledge on Pesticides Use and Exposure Storage of Pesticides and Disposal Methods of Empty Pesticide Containers Human Health Effects Due to Pesticide Use Role of Cotton Stakeholders Legislative Framework Regulating Pesticide Products in Kenya CHAPTER THREE MATERIALS AND METHOD Study Area Research Design Population of the Study Areas vi

7 3. 2 Sample Size Sampling Procedure Research Instruments Data Collection Procedure and Analysis...20 CHAPTER FOUR RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Demographic Parameters Knowledge on Safe Pesticide Use Storage of Pesticides and Disposal of Empty Containers Pesticide Effects on Human Health Role of Cotton Stakeholders Summary of Results and Discussion. 54 CHAPTER FIVE CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS Conclusion Recommendations...59 vii

8 REFERENCES...60 APPENDICES viii

9 LIST OF TABLES Table 1: Level of Education of Small Scale cotton Farmers in Chuluni and Mwea..24 Table 2: Association of Education level and Determinant of Pesticide to Use among farmers in Chuluni district 26 Table 3: Association of Education level and Determinant of Pesticide to Use among cotton farmers in Mwea District Table 4: Means used to determine the Amount of pesticide...28 Table 5: Association between Education level and Determinant of the amount of pesticide used by cotton farmers in Chuluni district Table 6: Association between Education level and Determinant of the amount of pesticide used by cotton farmers in Mwea district 29 Table 7: Association of Education level and Time of the Day small scale cotton farmers applied pesticides to Crops in Chuluni District Table 8: Association of Education level and Time of the day small scale cotton farmers applied pesticides to Crops in Mwea Division ix

10 Table 9: Association of Education level and how Spraying is carried out in relation to wind flow by small scale cotton farmers in Chuluni district Table 10: Association of Education level and how Spraying is carried out in relation to wind flow by small scale cotton farmers in Mwea district.. 33 Table 11: Type of Equipment used for spraying pesticides by small scale cotton farmers in Chuluni and Mwea districts Table 12: Storage of Pesticide by small scale cotton farmers in Chuluni and Mwea. 40 Table 13: Association of Education level and storage of pesticides among cotton farmers in Chuluni district..40 Table 14: Association of Education level and storage of pesticides among cotton farmers in Mwea district.. 40 Table 15: Methods of disposal of pesticide containers by small scale cotton farmers in Chuluni and Mwea Districts..42 Table 16: Association of Education level and disposal of pesticides among cotton farmers in Chuluni district x

11 Table 17: Association of Education level and disposal of pesticides among cotton farmers in Mwea district Table 18: Association of Education level and ill effects on skin experienced by small scale cotton farmers in Chuluni district Table 19: Association of Education level and ill effects on skin experienced by small scale cotton farmers in Mwea district Table 20: Eye effects experienced by small scale cotton farmers in Chuluni and Mwea districts...46 Table 21: General ill effects experienced by small scale Cotton Farmers in Chuluni and Mwea.47 Table 22: Remedial measures taken to counter the adverse health effects by small scale cotton farmers in Chuluni and Mwea district 48 Table 22: Association of Farmers trainings and methods of storage of pesticides by small scale cotton farmers in Chuluni Table 23: Association of Farmers trainings and methods of storage of pesticides by small scale cotton farmers in Mwea xi

12 Table 24: Association of Farmers trainings and ill effects experienced by small scale cotton farmers in Chuluni Table 25: Association of Farmers trainings and ill effects experienced by small scale cotton farmers in Mwea Table 26: Farmers comments on areas that need to be addressed by Stakeholders 54 xii

13 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1: Map of Kitui County showing sample site (Shaded green)..16 Figure 2: Map of Kirinyaga County showing sample site (shaded green) Figure 3: Age distribution of Small Scale cotton farmers Chuluni and Mwea district..23 Figure 4: Duration of growing cotton by farmers Chuluni and Mwea Figure 5: Factors that determine pesticide purchased by small scale cotton farmers in Chuluni and Mwea Figure 6: Time of the Day Pesticides were applied to Crops Figure 7: Direction of spraying pesticide in relation to wind flow by small scale cotton farmers in Chuluni and Mwea Figure 8: Use of recommended personal protective equipment by small scale cotton farmers in Chuluni and Mwea Figure 9: Reasons why small scale cotton farmers did not use personal protective equipment in Chuluni and Mwea.. 36 Figure 10: Kinds of protective clothing used by small scale cotton farmers in Chuluniand Mwea xiii

14 Figure 11: Effects experienced on skin by small scale cotton farmers in Chuluni and Mwea Figure 12: Attendance of training on pesticide use by small scale cotton farmers in Chuluni and Mwea.50 Figure 13: Organizations that trained cotton farmers in Chuluni and Mwea xiv

15 LIST OF PLATES Plate 1: A Cotton farmer in Chuluni District displaying the clothing he uses while spraying pesticides Plate 2: A cotton farmer in Mwea District displaying the clothing he uses while spraying pesticides xv

16 LIST OF APPENDICES Appendix: 1 Farmers Structured Interview Questionnaire Appendix: 2 Extension Service Providers Interview Guide Appendix: 3 Interview guide for Ministry of Health Staff xvi

17 ABBREVIATIONS ABD AGOA EMCA ESP FAO GDP ILO IPEN KARI MOA MOH NEMA PAN PCPB POPs PPE SPSS UNEP WHO Agriculture Business Development African Growth and Opportunity Act Environmental Management Coordination Act Extension Service Providers Food and Agriculture Organization Gross Domestic Product International Labour Organization International POPs Elimination Network Kenya Agriculture Research Institute Ministry of Agriculture Ministry of Health National Environmental Management Authority Pesticide Action Network Pest Control Products Board Persistent Organo Pollutants Personal Protective Equipment Statistical Package for Social Scientists United Nations Environmental Programme World Health Organization xvii

18 ABSTRACT The objective of the study was to evaluate the knowledge, practices and effects on human health associated with pesticide use among cotton farmers in Kitui and Kirinyaga counties of Kenya. The multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select two study districts, Chuluni and Mwea in Kitui and Kirinyaga counties respectively where 168 farmers were sampled through cluster sampling procedure. Face to face interviews were conducted using a questionnaire with close-ended questions in the months of July and August, Data collected on variables on effect of knowledge of farmers on pesticide use, storage and disposal of pesticides and human health due to pesticide handling as influenced by; age of farmers, education levels of farmers, duration farmers had grown cotton and status on trainings attended where correlations were done to establish relationships. The data collected was analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS) version 12.0 and results were presented in tables and bar graphs. Demographic data of sampled farmers showed that; 56% of cotton farmers in Chuluni were aged years and 38% were over 60 years old, while in Mwea, 56% were aged years and 41% were over 60 years old. On education levels, 53% of farmers in Chuluni had primary education and 39% were illiterate while in Mwea, 61% of farmers had primary education and 29% were illiterate. Study on knowledge of farmers on pesticide use showed that; 66% of cotton farmers in Chuluni relied on the Cooperative group for supply of pesticides while 40% in Mwea depended on advice from Extension service providers and another 40% made choice depending on the pest to be controlled. xviii

19 Use of personal protective equipment was a practice that had not been adopted by majority of farmers, since in Chuluni district 91% did not wear personal protective equipment while applying pesticides and 100% in Mwea. The study established that cotton farmers suffered adverse health effects as a result of handling pesticides: 76% of farmers in Chuluni experienced burning sensation, 50% experienced eye irritation and 39% experienced dizziness. In Mwea 62% of the farmers experienced burning sensation, 52% experienced eye irritation and 37% experienced dizziness. As a way of mitigating or minimizing the adverse effects after handling pesticides, 36% of farmers in Chuluni took fresh milk and 20% washed their bodies while in Mwea 35% took fresh milk and 17% washed their bodies. The Ministry of Agriculture and agrochemical companies played a role on enhancing knowledge on pesticides use among cotton farmers by conducting farmers trainings: 74% of farmers in Chuluni had attended training in 2007 while only 30% for Mwea area. Statistical treatment of the data for both Chuluni and Mwea districts showed that there was no relationship between, education levels of farmers; and determination of pesticide to use, time of day farmers applied pesticides, direction of the wind during pesticide application, methods of pesticide storage and ill effects experienced on skin. Each of the relationships showed p> Further there was no relationship between attendance of trainings by farmers; methods of pesticide storage and ill effects experienced on skin as xix

20 p> However there was relationship between education levels of farmers and the way they determined the amount of pesticide to use, (p< 0.05). This study demonstrated that knowledge of cotton farmers in both Chuluni and Mwea on pesticide use was reflected on their practices. From the study, it is recommended that cotton farmers should be trained on pesticide use and handling while at the same time the Government of Kenya should consider making the personal protective equipment accessible and affordable to farmers. xx