It has been shown that farmers with limited knowledge of the use and safe handling of pesticides may suffer exposure which results in adverse health effects. In Buea, Cameroon, small-scale tomato farmers commonly use pesticides for pest control. Information was obtained from these tomato farmers to determine the extent and types of their pesticide use, their knowledge of pesticide use and effectiveness, and their perception of potential harm resulting from pesticide use. A standardized questionnaire, interviews, field observations and an analytical ranking game were used to describe the pesticide use of 93 tomato farmers. Many farmers (47.6%) used pyrethiod and organophosphorus insecticides and identified these chemicals as the most effective in pesticide control; these are WHO Class II pesticides which are the most hazardous to humans. Most farmers (83.8%) used knapsack sprayers to apply pesticides, with 76.3% using no or partial personal protective equipment (PPE). It was notable that 55.5% of farmers expressed no concern regarding the wind direction (pesticide drift) during spraying. The results showed a significant association between the method of pesticides application and farm size (P < 0.001). Most farmers (85.0%) reported at least one symptom of acute pesticide poisoning following spraying. This study revealed that the tomato farmers have a high exposure to pesticides secondary to inadequate knowledge of the safe and judicious use of pesticides. Strategies that provide training on the appropriate use of pesticides, how to reduce exposure to and health risks of pesticides and alternative options of pest management and control are required. The study also raised concerns that further control of the sale and distribution of pesticides may be indicated.
Pests are known to negatively impact crop production as well as the health of communities and nations. Farmers have long sought ways to control pests and plant disease. In Cameroon, farmers have traditionally used wood ash and animal droppings (mixed with water) to control pests and plant disease. However, these methods are ineffective and do not improve crop production.
As in many African Nations, Cameroon has seen a population shift from rural to urban areas which have increased the demand for vegetables in towns and cities. To meet this need, small-scale farmers are now cultivating their crops in semi-urban and urban areas. These small-scale farmers have turned to pesticide use which they recognize will reduce crop loss and improve crop production [
Farmers are often exposed to increased health risks through the mixing, application, and disposal of pesticides. This exposure can lead to pesticide poisoning causing short- and/or long-term health effects. In 1986, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that 1 million cases of pesticide poisoning were reported annually which resulted from farm use; approximately 200,000 (20.0%) of these cases resulted in death [
The routes of human exposure and pesticide poisoning are through inhalation, ingestion, and skin absorption [
The tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is one of the most widely grown vegetables in the world [
In recent years, Buea has experienced an increase in population resulting in an increased demand for tomatoes. This has caused a tomato shortage and led many small-scale farmers to change to tomato cultivation, even though they had limited knowledge on tomato farming techniques. Buea is an ideal environment to grow tomatoes, because the land has streams and springs which facilitate irrigation by running down the mountain slope of the municipality. In Buea, tomato cultivation has benefited the economy by increasing both community employment and the income of small- and medium-scale farmers. The tomatoes grown are used for household and domestic consumption, and are in demand in neighboring areas of Cameroon and other nations. Yet, in Cameroon, the production of tomatoes has been shown to be greatly impacted by different types of pests [
Farmers often regard pesticides to be the primary solution to boost their crop productivity, but the farmers’ increasing dependence on pesticides has attracted little attention in Cameroon. The increased crop productivity is especially appreciated by the small-scale farmers, but there is also increasing concern expressing about the health effects of pesticide use within the communities. This study was performed to determine the degree and types of pesticide use, the Buea farmer’s reliability on chemicals to control pests and to assess the knowledge, and perception of farmers on pesticide effectiveness and potential health risks.
The study site was located within the Buea municipality which is in the South West Region of Cameroon. Buea municipality is on the leeward site of Mount Cameroon, situated at 247.789˚N, 58.24˚S, and some 530 m above sea level. The temperature varies between 17˚C to 32˚C. The rainy season is from late March to early November, with an annual rainfall of above 4000 mm. There is a short dry season from mid-November to mid-March. Most of the tomato cultivation is done during the dry season due to the favorable climatic conditions. This survey was performed from September 2012 to November 2013 during both dry and rainy seasons.
A standardized questionnaire, interviews, field observations and an analytical ranking game were used to collect study information. The questionnaire consisted of 30 questions which addressed the following: demographic and life style data, farm details, work history, and pesticide use and practices. The questionnaire was developed from previous studies [
The formal interview consisted of a structured guide containing multiple choice questions and administered by the authors. This information assessed the farmers’ perception of pesticides use and resulting health risks or hazards.
Field observations were accomplished by the principal author. The farmer provided their farm location during the interview and gave permission for the visit. A general time frame for the visit was given, but an exact date was not identified. This allowed the farmers’ day to day pesticide use and practices to be observed without change or bias by the farmer in anticipation of the visit.
An analytical ranking game was used to assess the farmers’ perception of pesticide use and health risk. This tool has been used in previous studies [
Criteria for participation included the farmer must have lived upon and practiced pesticide use on their farm for a minimum of 3 years, own/rent a tomato farm with a size between ≤200 m2 to 900 m2 within the Buea municipality, and able to communicate in either English, French, “pidgin English” or the local language (Bakweri).
Participants were recruited with the assistance of community leaders, churches, and local groups in the study area. Letters were sent to each of these entities which contained a clear explanation of reasons for the study, study objectives, inclusion criteria, consent to participate, and voluntary participation. These leaders and groups made announcements to the general public or community gatherings for a month. Those farmers who expressed interest in participation were invited to meet at the community leaders’ residence, group meeting locations, or church premises. At these meetings, the principal investigator reviewed the study and explained the content. If the farmer wished to participate, the consent form was signed, and the questionnaire was given to complete. Both the consent and the questionnaire were fully explained to ascertain the farmers understanding. All participants spoke “pidgin English” which is the commonly used language in the South West region. Those participants who could not read came with a family member or friend to assist in understanding each question and how to complete the questionnaire. The principal investigator also followed up with those farmers who could not read English, and translated the questionnaire into their preferred language to make sure the questions were fully understood. The farmers returned completed questionnaires directly to the principal investigator or through their community leaders or groups.
Of the 98 farmers who volunteered to participate in the survey, 3 dropped out of the study due to travel difficulties. This left a total of 95 participating farmers. As a quality control measure, all questionnaires were checked and double-keyed to ensure the questions were answered. Two questionnaires had missing values and were excluded from the study. This left a final total of 93 farmers who successfully completed all aspects of the study.
Data analysis was performed using statistical software package IBM SPSS 21.0. A descriptive statistical analysis was done to generate frequencies, tables, and figures. A Chi square test was performed to identify possible associations with a p-value of <0.05 considered to be statistically significant.
Administrative clearance to perform the study was obtained from the District Medical Officer. Community support and concurrence was obtained from community leaders and groups, and exhibited by their assistance in recruitment and study management.
The farmer’s demographic information is presented in
During the analytical ranking game, the farmers identified 28 pesticides they used with 12 being most commonly used. These 12 pesticides were identified in a total of 483 responses, as multiple responses were accepted among farmers. Insecticides (54.7%) were most frequently identified, followed by fungicides (22.8%), and herbicides (19.3%). Sixteen chemicals (3.3%) could not be classified.
The majority of the farmers (91.4%) said that they were dependent upon chemical control of tomato pests. This dependency was encouraged and supported by easy access to pesticides within Buea municipality with 80% of farmers acquiring from local pesticide vendors’ shops and 20% from general shops. Pesticides were available in liquid containers, ranging from 1 to 5 liters, and in powder sachets, ranging from 0.5 kg to 25 kg. Some vendors
Ranking | Description | Ranking | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Effectiveness | Hazardous | ||
1 | Very effective and kills all pests, 80% - 100% | 1 | Very hazardous and could lead to death, hospitalization or long term effects |
2 | Effective and kills all pests, 50% - 80% | 2 | Hazardous and may cause a short illness or require a visit to a physician |
3 | Moderately effective and kills pests, ≤50% | 3 | Moderately hazardous may lead to vomiting, dizziness, confusion or blurred vision , skin itches |
4 | No effects on pests | 4 | Least hazardous and may cause some dizziness, tiredness, light fever or headache |
5 | Make the situation worse | 5 | No effects |
Dimensions | Frequency, (range), (%), mean ± SD |
---|---|
Demographic characteristics | |
Male | 90 (96.7) |
Age (years) | 45.5 ± 9.2 (28 - 60) |
Female | 03 (3.2) |
Age (years) | 45.3 ± 8.4 (34 - 54) |
Marital status | |
Married | 87 (93.5) |
Single | 06 (6.5) |
Educational level | |
No formal education | 37 (39.8) |
Primary | 33 (35.5) |
Secondary | 17 (18.3) |
Post secondary | 06 (6.5) |
Years as a farmer | 16.3 ± 4.8 (3 - 24) |
Owned or rented farm size | |
≤200 m2 | 06 (6.5) |
201 m2 - 400 m2 | 23 (24.7) |
401 m2 - 600 m2 | 25 (26.9) |
601 m2 - 800 m2 | 39 (41.9) |
sell pesticides in smaller quantities of unlabelled containers to enable the farmer to purchase pesticides at a decreased cost. Most of the pesticides were from the; Pyrethoid, Organophosphorus, Organochlorine, Carbamate, Benzimidazole, Acylanine, Glycine derivative, Bipyridylium and Denitroaline chemical groups. Many farmers (94.6%) used more than one pesticide on their farm with 50 g/l Cypermethrine, Mancozeb, and Glyphosate being the most common chemicals identified.
Most farmers (83.8%) used knapsack sprayers to apply the pesticides, with 76.3% using no or partial PPE. Over half of farmers (55.5%) said they did not consider the wind direction (pesticide drift) during spraying. Many of these farmers (66.7%) disposed used pesticides containers on their farms. The farmers (65.6%) also
Category of pesticide | Trade name | Active ingredient (s) (AI) | Chemical group | WHO chemical AI hazard classification | Frequency (%) of farmers responses |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Insecticides | |||||
Cypercal® 50EC | 50 g/l cypermethrine | Pyrethiod | II | 70 (14.5 ) | |
Parastar® 40EC | 20 g/l imidachlopride + 20 g/l lambdacyhalothrine | Pyrethiod | II | 63 (13.0) | |
Pyriforce® | 600 g/l chlorpyriphos-ethyl | Organophosphorus | II | 50 (10.4) | |
Dimex® 400EC | 400 g/l dimethoate | Organophosphorus | II | 47 (9.7) | |
Thionex® 35R EC | 350 g/l endosulfan | Organochlorine | II | 34 (7.0) | |
Sub total | 264 (54.7) | ||||
Fungicides | |||||
Dithane T&O | Mancozeb | Carbamate | II | 38 (7.9) | |
Topsin M | Thiophanate-methyl | Benzimidazole | II | 35 (7.2) | |
Apron4 | Metalaxyl-M | Acylalanine | II | 22 (4.6) | |
Cleary’s 3336 | Carbendazim | Benzimidazole | II | 15 (3.1) | |
Sub total | 110 (22.8) | ||||
Herbicides | |||||
Roundup | Glyphosate | Glycine derivative | III | 39 (8.1) | |
Gramoxone | Paraquat dichloride | Bipyridylium | II | 32 (6.6) | |
Corral G | Pendimethalin | Dinitroaline | III | 22 (4.6) | |
Sub total | 93 (19.3) | ||||
Unclassified | 16 (3.3) | ||||
Total | 483 (100) |
WHO classification class II = moderately hazardous, III = slightly hazardous.
disposed the water used in pesticide application and the water used to wash knapsack sprayers upon their fields and in nearby streams. Many farmers (63.4%) returned to their farms within 48 hours after spraying. Most farmers (82.8%) do practice safe methods of pesticides storage after procurement. The primary source of pesticide information was from local pesticide vendors. It was found that the pesticides were not labeled when these vendors repackaged the pesticides in smaller amounts. Most farmers (85.0%) reported symptoms of acute pesticide poisoning after spraying, with weakness (84.9%), and dizziness, headache or fever (67.7%) most often identified. Many farmers said they smoked (47.3%) while spraying pesticides, ate (66.7%) on their farms after spraying, and did not wash their hands (67.7%) with soap and water after spraying. The majority of farmers (87.4%) washed their farm clothes with their family wash, which raises the possibility of cross-contamination.
Indicator | Frequency of respondents N (%) | Indicator | Frequency of respondents N (%) |
---|---|---|---|
APPLICATION OF PESTICIDE AND MANAGEMENT | STORAGE OF PESTICIDES AND DISPOSAL OF USED CONTAINERS | ||
Practice of personal protection | Storage after purchase | ||
Near complete protectiona | 22 (23.7) | Safe practices | 77 (82.8%) |
No or partial protection*b | 71 (76.3%) | Unsafe practices | 16 (17.2%) |
Equipment use | Disposal of used pesticide containers | ||
Knapsack sprayer | 78 (83.9%) | Discarded on farms | 62 (66.7%) |
Hand sprinkling | 15 (16.1%) | Take home and washed for reuse | 8 (8.6%) |
Own a sprayer | Buried on the farm | 7 (7.5%) | |
Yes | 37 (39.8%) | Discarded on neighborhood fields | 6 (6.5%) |
No | 56 (60.2%) | Burned on farm | 5 (5.4%) |
Method of spraying | Discarded in municipal garbage | 3 (3.2%) | |
In wind direction | 34 (36.6%) | Sold to pesticide vendors | 2 (2.2%) |
No consideration | 52 (55.9%) | SOURCES OF FARMER’S KNOWLEDGE OF PESTICIDE USE | |
Against the wind | 7 (7.5%) | Pesticide vendors | 78 (83.9%) |
Timing of pesticide applicationc | Farming groups and friends | 44 (47.3%) | |
Immediately after transplanting | 50 (53.8%) | Pesticide labels | 36 (38.7%) |
Upon presence of pests | 70 (75.3%) | The media | 2 (2.2%) |
Increased degree of pest infestation | 42 (45.2%) | Other sources | 7 (7.5%) |
Other | 22 (23.7%) | SIGNS & SYMPTOMS OF ACUTE PESTICIDE POISONING AFTER SPRAYINGc | |
Field re-entry after spraying | Weakness | 79 (84.9%) | |
72 hours and greater | 24 (25.8%) | Dizziness, headache and/or fever | 63 (67.7%) |
48 - 72 hours | 10 (10.8%) | Skin irritations | 29 (31.2%) |
Less than 48 hours | 59 (63.4%) | Blurred vision and/or eye itching | 15 (16.1) |
Care of sprayer after use | Vomiting and/or stomach discomfort | 6 (6.5%) | |
Wash sprayer | None | 14 (15.1%) | |
Yes | 88 (94.6%) | PERSONAL AND LIFE STYLE FACTORS | |
No | 5 (5.4%) | Drink alcohol | 81 (87.1%) |
Disposal of wash water from sprayer | Smoke tobacco | 44 (47.3%) | |
On farm | 22 (23.7%) | Washes hands after spraying with water only | 63 (67.7%) |
On nearby fields/stream | 61 (65.6%) | Wash hands after spraying with soap and water | 30 (32.3%) |
On home field | 7 (7.5%) | Eats on farm after spraying | 24 (25.8%) |
Other | 3 (3.2%) | Smokes during spraying | 44 (47.3%) |
Mix and wash farm clothes with other cloths | 77 (82.8%) | ||
Treats and washes farm clothes separately | 16 (17.2%) |
aWear long sleeves shirts and long pants, use gloves and mask; bWear short sleeves shirts or t-shirt and long pants, short pants and long sleeves shirt, mask and no gloves, gloves and no mask; cRequire multiple responses per item express over the total respondents for the items; *No farmer reported wearing boots or eye glasses during spraying.
Season | Month | Number of sprays | Mean of intervals spray days | % of participants |
---|---|---|---|---|
Wet/rainy | March - June | 20 - 30 | 7 | 15 |
July - October | 30 - 40 | 7 | 10 | |
Dry | November - December | <10 | 14 | 100 |
January - February | 10 - 20 | 14 | 100 |
Disease | Pathogens | Frequency (%) respondents | Pest | Frequency (%) of respondents | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dry season | Rainy/wet season | Fruit fly | 76 | ||
Late blight | Pytophtora infestans | 17 | 60 | Fruit worm | 48 |
Early blight | Alternaria solani | 36 | 11 | Sweet potato whitefly | 41 |
Bacterial wilt | Pseudomonas solanacearum | 22 | 9 | Aphids | 28 |
Bacterial canker | Clamvobacter michiganensis subsp. | 12 | 7 | Others | 16 |
Root knot | Meloidogyne sp. | 6 | 5 | ||
Damping off | Rhizoctonia solani | 4 | 3 | ||
Others | Pythium sp. | 3 | 5 |
Although more younger men reported symptoms of acute poisoning, only one symptom (weakness) reached statistical significance (p < 0.5). It was significant that more older men reported no symptoms than the younger men.
Most of the farmers (83.8%) used the knapsack as their major equipment for pesticides application with 74.7% of these farmers having farm sizes between 401 m2 to 800 m2. As shown in
Pesticides (chemical active ingredients) | Levels of effectivenessi | Total participants | Mean levels | Pesticides (chemical active ingredients) | Levels of hazardsii | Total participants | Mean levels | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||||||
50 g/l cypermethrine | 51 | 15 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 70 | 1.3 | 50 g/l cypermethrine | 66 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 76 | 1.2 |
20 g/l imidachlopride + 20 g/l lambdacyhalothrine | 42 | 10 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 63 | 1.5 | 20 g/l imidachlopride + 20 g/l lambdacyhalothine | 53 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 60 | 1.2 |
600 g/l chlorpyriphos-ethyl | 36 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 50 | 1.5 | 600 g/l chlorpyriphos-ethyl | 44 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 55 | 1.3 |
400 g/l dimethoate | 33 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 47 | 1.6 | 400 g/l dimethoate | 41 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 52 | 1.3 |
iEffectiveness level: 1 = extremely effective, kill all pest, 80% - 100%; 2 = effective, kill all pest, 50% - 80%; 3 = moderately kill all pest, 50% - 80%; 4 = least effective, kill pest, ≤50%; 5 = make situation worse. iiHazard level: 1 = highly hazardous; 2 = hazardous; 3 = moderately hazardous; 4 = lest hazardous; 5 = no effects.
Challenges | Total respondents/(%) | Perception about pesticides |
---|---|---|
Insects pest | 72 (77.4) | Pesticides are harmful only under certain conditions and entry points |
Plant diseases | 68 (73.1) | Pesticides harm mostly some people like, the old and people with weak immune system |
High cost of pesticides | 62 (66.7) | Pesticides are harmless to human |
Fluctuating weather conditions | 61 (65.6) | Pesticides are harmful but their preventive methods can cause more harm than good |
Limited storage life of tomatoes | 58 (62.4) | Farmers think they are already taken enough precautions |
Lack of pest resistant tomatoes | 51 (54.8) | Farmers suffer from ill-health from pesticides but they attribute it to something else other than the pesticide |
Uncertainty in market situation | 48 (51.6) | |
Dampening-off of seedlings in nurseries | 33 (35.5) |
they had taken enough precautions to protect themselves. Finally, some farmers said that pesticides are specifically used to treat plants and kill insects, and therefore can have no effect upon humans.
In Africa, farmers have been shown to apply pesticides more frequently with the hope of acquiring better results [
The same situation was also found in Buea, where small-scale tomato farmers identify a high dependency on different formulations and combinations of pesticides as the major means to control pest and plant diseases on their farms.
Some farmers still practice the traditional methods of applying a mix of wood ash, animal droppings, and water to their crops, removing weeds with hands, cutlasses and hoes, and harvesting what is left after pests and diseases infestation at the end of each planting season. These traditional farming practices are not common in Buea.
Insects have been identified as a major hindrance to tomato production in this area [
Pesticides are expensive, especially for small-scale farmers. The use of pesticides has been encouraged by pesticide vendors who divide pesticides into small sachets and containers which are sold to the farmers without labeling [
In the analytic rating game, the farmers identified 28 pesticides being used with insecticides being most used and herbicides least used. The Buea farmer’s herbicide use was less than that identified in Ghana [
Most Buea farmers (83.8%) anticipate pest infestations and began spraying the plants from the nursery to few weeks after transplanting. This practice shows that the farmers target any organisms that may pose as threat to the tomatoes. The problem is that natural organisms are killed which benefit the ecosystem, including earth worms which render the soil airy and ease water and other minerals absorption in the crops.
A concerning finding was that almost 95.0% of Buea farmers used indiscriminate chemical combinations with repeated application of pesticides in hope of acquiring rapid and improved results. Yet, some of these combinations have been shown to facilitate the development of pest resistance to the chemicals [
A knapsack sprayer (83.8%) was the main pesticide application equipment used by the famers. But, only 39.8% of farmers were able to afford a knapsack. The other farmers must depend on either renting or borrowing this equipment from friends. Those farmers having no access to sprayers (16.1%) use hand sprinkling by improvising methods of attaching brushes, mesh, leaves of plants on a wooden short stick to sprinkle their pesticides after mixing in an open container (bucket or bowl).
It is important to keep knapsack sprayers in good condition and operating properly. Sprayers have been known to spill or leak, especially when overused on rotational bases. An association has been shown between knapsack leakages and human health effects [
The method of pesticide application and practices which are used by most Buea farmers exposes them not only to acute effects of pesticide poisoning but to the long term effects of neurological damage and cancer. Many of the farmers mixed and sprayed pesticides injudiciously using knapsack sprayer cups and teas spoons without accurate measurements leading to an incorrect estimation of pesticide strength and overdosing of the chemicals. Although fungicide usage is said to have little effects on humans, studies have shown that there is high risk of cancer with long term use of mancozed of the carbamate chemical group [
The farmer’s health risks were further increased because farmers were not aware of the need to monitor wind directions when spraying and even smoked while spraying. Less than one-fourth of farmers said they used PPE (long sleeved shirts, long pants, boots or closed toed shoes, gloves, masks, and a hat), with the majority (76.4%) of farmers wearing no or partial PPE. These exposures increase the farmer’s risk of pesticide poisoning and possible health effects, which could explain why 85.3% of farmers reported signs and symptoms of acute pesticide poisoning after spraying.
In the Ivory Coast, farmers avoided medical care on the assumption that signs and symptoms of pesticides poisoning are a normal phenomenon and need no medical attention [
Many Buea farmers said they discarded the pesticides containers on the farm. This was confirmed at the farm visits where many empty pesticide containers could be seen in clusters as one walked in the fields. The disposal of used containers was further complicated, because most of the farms are located along streams which were easier to use to wash the sprayers and to discard the used water. Because this is a mountainous terrain, most of this water runs off and the containers are swept away by rain into the streams and rivers which empty into the Atlantic Ocean. There is a potential pollution threat to the communities along the water way and to non-targeted fauna and flora which has a potential of destabilizing the food chain and the ecosystem at large. Further studies are needed to evaluate this possibility in order to put in place adequate measures to control such practices.
The availability of potable water remains a health concern throughout Cameroon in both urban and rural areas. Although the Buea municipality does have a potable water system, most farmers use it only for drinking water and use the streams for their domestic activities in order to limit water bills. The impact of this practice upon the water sources (streams) is concerning, for both the soil and the water may be affected.
After using pesticides, the farmers do observe a decrease in pests and disease. The pesticide venders emphasize this benefit and make pesticides more financially attractive by distributing pesticides in smaller quantities of unlabelled containers. Labeling information is essential to making specific instructions for pesticide use available to all pesticide users. This practice does not encourage farmers to investigate other suitable non-chemical and environmental friendly methods that are equally inexpensive but offer good control of pests. Some of these methods include crop rotation, intercropping and even the occasional use of botanical synthetic pesticides which have been effective in some developing countries [
The analytical ranking game showed that 28 pesticides were recognized and used by these farmers. It was reassuring that the farmers were able to rank and differentiate pesticides in accordance with WHO standards. The farmers recognized that these were hazardous chemicals and most farmers rated the pesticides as extremely hazardous as opposed to moderately hazardous. Yet, having knowledge of the hazards did not translate into behavior. Most farmers did not follow commonly recommended guidelines for safe use of pesticides, including using PPE, hand washing with soap/water after spraying, not eating in the fields, not washing of work clothes with family clothes, and proper disposal of pesticide containers. These actions subject the farmers and their households to increased pesticide exposure and risk of pesticide poisoning. There is an obvious need for these farmers to be provided further education, especially on the safe use of pesticides. In many countries, this sensitization has been successfully provided by agricultural extension service programs which have helped farmers to reduce the risks of pesticide use and to provide alternate options for pest control.
All farmers cultivated tomatoes during the dry season, with an average frequency of spraying being once a week until harvest. Those farmers, who cultivated tomatoes during the wet season, reported spraying more frequently than in the dry season. This increase in spraying frequency was a result of rainfall which washes the pesticides off the plants and increases the need for further spraying. Therefore, only a few farmers were able to cultivate tomatoes during the rainy period due to the high cost of pesticides. Seeking alternate options for pest control may assist more farmers to extend their planting seasons.
Finally, the concerning use of pesticides has the potential to threaten the health of the environment through soil, water and air pollution. A goal of this study is to promote awareness of the risks associated with pesticides usage even in small-scale farming practices. It is hoped that the policy formulators will become aware for the need of interventions to be developed which can educate and support the farming communities, the general populations, and the environment in Cameroon.
The number of participants is statistically small with study participation limited to one geographic area of Cameroon. Although the findings were consistent with field observations, they may or may not reflect the knowledge, attitudes, and use of pesticides by farmers within the Buea municipality and other Cameroon communities.
All farmers decided for themselves if they wished to participate in the study. This raises the possibility of a “self selection” bias in the findings. Therefore, the participant’s responses and practices may or may not represent typical farmers in the area.
This study provides valuable information concerning the trend in pesticide knowledge, attitudes, and use in a community of small-scale tomato farmers in Buea, Cameroon. The study revealed that small-scale tomato farmers lack adequate knowledge on the safe and judicious use of pesticides. Knowledge deficits included the use of PPE when applying pesticides, the proper handling and disposal of pesticides, and the possible individual, family and community health impact of pesticide use.
To increase the farmer’s knowledge and promote positive farming practices, field-based agricultural training programs should be encouraged. Studies have shown that such programs are effective in transforming farmer’s behaviors and actions to improve their pesticide use [
This study showed that further investigation should be conducted on the soil and water within this region. It is important to identify how pesticide use can be safe and effective in multiple environments, as well as to determine a baseline measurement of the present level of pesticide contamination.
Although some farmers are aware of the health risk associated with pesticides use, many do not practice adequate measures to minimize the health effects. Many farmers believe that the symptoms of acute pesticide poisoning are attributable to other causes. Pesticide exposure has the potential to be a serious public health problem within these communities. An active agricultural extension service and training program could address the sales, purchase and use of pesticides by vendors and farmers.
This study focused upon pesticide use within the Buea area; further investigations in other Cameroon communities are encouraged to enable a national strategic plan to be developed to address pest control and pesticide use.
The authors wish to acknowledge and appreciate the participation of all community leaders, churches and the small-scale tomatoes farmers within Buea Municipality who participated in the survey. The encouragement and support of Eko Paul, Manyi Christianna, Kombe Simon and Dr. Manjo Matilda the District Health Officer is recognized and appreciated. Special thanks and appreciation also goes to Dorothy J. Meyer for her critical suggestions and review of this article.