Abstract: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in seven localities in Khartoum State (Sudan) to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice of pesticide’s sprayers towards pesticide use and their residues on the vegetables grown in greenhouses. Fourteen farms were selected, and a structured questionnaire was used to interview 20 applicators. The results revealed that the ages of all interviewed pesticide’s sprayers were ranging between 25 and 45 years old. Their education levels were 30% primary school, 25% high secondary school, 30% university graduates, and 5% illiterates. A hundred percent of the respondents received training on pesticide handling, 80% knew that pesticides are very harmful, 20% mentioned that they are moderate harmful to the human health, and 75% did not know that the pesticide’s residues may remain on the vegetables after application. Seventy percent of them followed the instructions written on the bottle label or packet, whereas 25% were following the instructions on the label and the engineer, and 5% were following only the instructions of the engineer. Fortunately, the whole pesticide’s sprayers interviewed were using personal protective equipment (PPE) during spraying the pesticides to reduce occupational exposure to pesticides. The greater part (95%) of them did not smoke, eat or drink water during pesticides use, while only one (5%) did not answer. But unfortunately, all of them had demonstrated poor practices of disposing of empty pesticide’s containers. Also, 55% were spraying twice a week, 20% once a week, 20% day after day and (5%) others. In addition, 40% were collected their vegetables three days after spraying, 30% two days after spraying while 30% others irrespective to the instructions of the labels. The study concluded that there is a great risk to the consumers’ health and to the environment in short and long-term and recommended to Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Health to conduct thorough training and health education programs for pesticides’ sprayers of greenhouse farms, along with close supervision and monitoring of pesticides residues level on vegetables in order to reduce the potential health risks to the farm workers and consumers.
Keywords: Knowledge; attitudes; practices; Pesticide Residues; Vegetables; Greenhouses; Sudan.
Title: Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of Pesticide’s Sprayers towards Pesticides Use and Handling in Greenhouse Farms, Sudan
Author: Awad O. Mohamed, Adam A. Mater, Ahmed M.A. Hammad, Abd Elaziz S.A. Ishag, Azhari O. Abdelbagi, Ali M. Eldein, Elsadig M. Eltayeb, Asia A. Dahab, Ahmed Abdul Gader
International Journal of Management and Commerce Innovations
ISSN 2348-7585 (Online)
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