Agrochemicals are contemporary, omnipresent tool used in vegetable cultivation. Farmers’ knowledge and awareness of the proper usage of agrochemicals are critical for mitigating the negative effects on human health. This cross-sectional study was aimed at assessing the usage knowledge, risk awareness of toxicological and chemical classes, proper handling and use practices for agrochemicals homologated for use in vegetable farming, and the occurrence of health-related symptoms as a result of exposure among these farmers. The study included 93 vegetable growers from agricultural hotspot towns in Fako, southwest Cameroon. The field study, ran from November 2021 to December 2023, using a questionnaire to collect information on farmers demographic, and their knowledge of pesticide classes, and the related risk of associated with the handling of agrochemicals. Results show that all vegetable farmers, particularly those engaged in agribusiness, employ pesticide inputs to maximize production. Six pesticides, two fertilizer types, and one unknown substance were identified. While 23 active compounds were found, the most utilized were abamectin, emamectin (10.46%), dimethoate (9.30%,) and ethoprophos (8.13%). Two active chemicals, dimethoate and methalaxyl, are illegal yet remain in circulation. Toxicological classes I and II, with the greatest harmful effect on human health, were the most commonly utilized (64.27%). Thirty-nine percent of farmers never use personal protection equipment when working with agrochemicals, demonstrating a significant gap in knowledge and awareness of agrochemicals and their various applications and handling procedures in the field. The government should implement an intensive specialized educational program for on-field farmers with incentives in order to promote sustainable agriculture methods that ensure environmental and human safety.
References
[1]
Ajonina, U. P., Joseph, T. N., & Fonchenalla, T. A. (2021). Farmers’ Perceptions of Impacts of Climate Variability on Market Gardening and Adaptation Strategies on the Slopes of Mount Cameroon. International Journal of Research Studies in Agricultural Sciences, 7, 1-10.
[2]
Alexandratos, N., & Bruinsma, J. (2012). World Agriculture towards 2030/2050: The 2012 Revision (154 p. Report No. 12-03). The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
[3]
Amoah, P., Drechsel, P., Abaidoo, R. C., & Ntow, W. J. (2006). Pesticide and Pathogen Contamination of Vegetables in Ghana’s Urban Markets. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 50, 1-6. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-004-0054-8
[4]
Asongwe, G. A., Yerima, B. P. K., & Tening, A. S. (2014). Vegetable Production and the Livelihood of Farmers in Bamenda Municipality, Cameroon. International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences, 3, 682-700.
[5]
Boateng, K. O., Dankyi, E., Amponsah, I. K., Awudzi, G. K., Amponsah, E., & Darko, G. (2023). Knowledge, Perception, and Pesticide Application Practices among Smallholder Cocoa Farmers in Four Ghanaian Cocoa-Growing Regions. Toxicology Reports, 10, 46-55. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxrep.2022.12.008
[6]
CREPD (2019). IPEN Africa HHPs Project—Toxics-Free SDGs Cameroon Country Situation Report on HHPs.
[7]
Damalas, C. A., & Eleftherohorinos, I. G. (2011). Pesticide Exposure, Safety Issues, and Risk Assessment Indicators. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 8, 1402-1419. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph8051402
[8]
Dassou, A., Anagonou, C., Vodouhe, S., Adjai-Edikou, A., Tovignan, S., Dassou, B. et al. (2023). Farmer’s Perception of Agrochemical Use on Honeybees and Honey Production in Benin: Implication for Organic Honey Production. Annales de l’Université de Parakou-Série Sciences Naturelles et Agronomie, 13, 43-52. https://doi.org/10.56109/aup-sna.v12i2.25
[9]
FAO (2021). Pesticides Use. Global, Regional and Country Trends, 1990-2018. Anal. Br. Ser. 16, 1-9.
[10]
Feola, G., Gallati, J. A., & Binder, C. R. (2012). Exploring Behavioural Change through an Agent-Oriented System Dynamics Model: The Use of Personal Protective Equipment among Pesticide Applicators in Colombia. System Dynamics Review, 28, 69-93. https://doi.org/10.1002/sdr.469
[11]
Gokowski, J., & Ndumba, J. M. (1997). The Transformation of Leafy Vegetables Cropping Systems along Cameroon’s Humid Forest Margins. In R. Schippers, & L. Budd (Eds.), African Indigenous Vegetables Workshop Proceedings (pp. 46-51).
[12]
Gupta, N., Yadav, K. K., Kumar, V., Prasad, S., Cabral-Pinto, M. M. S., Jeon, B. et al. (2022). Investigation of Heavy Metal Accumulation in Vegetables and Health Risk to Humans from Their Consumption. Frontiers in Environmental Science, 10, Article ID: 791052. https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2022.791052
[13]
Gupta, R., Sarkar, M. J., Islam, M. S., Uddin, M. R., Riza, I. J., Monira, S. et al. (2023). Introducing New Cropping Pattern to Increase Cropping Intensity in Hill Tract Area in Bangladesh. Sustainability, 15, Article No. 11471. https://doi.org/10.3390/su151411471
[14]
Hou, B., & Wu, L. (2010). Safety Impact and Farmer Awareness of Pesticide Residues. Food and Agricultural Immunology, 21, 191-200. https://doi.org/10.1080/09540105.2010.484858
[15]
Khanal, G., & Singh, A. (2016). Patterns of Pesticide Use and Associated Factors among the Commercial Farmers of Chitwan, Nepal. Environmental Health Insights, 10, EHI.S40973. https://doi.org/10.4137/ehi.s40973
[16]
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MINADER) (2022). Liste des pesticides homologues au Cameroun au 26 Octobre 2022. Liste réservée au Grand Public.
[17]
Mondal, S., & Pal, B. (2023). Study on the Impact of Agrochemicals on Environment and Human Health in North 24 Parganas District of West Bengal: An Insight of Farmers’ Perception. Scholars Journal of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences, 10, 19-24. https://doi.org/10.36347/sjavs.2023.v10i03.001
[18]
Obiri, B. D., Obeng, E. A., Oduro, K. A., Apetorgbor, M. M., Peprah, T., Duah-Gyamfi, A. et al. (2021). Farmers’ Perceptions of Herbicide Usage in Forest Landscape Restoration Programs in Ghana. Scientific African, 11, e00672. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sciaf.2020.e00672
[19]
OECD/FAO (2023). Environmental Sustainability in Agriculture.
[20]
Okolle, J. N., Ijiang, P. T., & Ngome, F. A. (2014). Evaluation of Farmer’s Knowledge on Pests and Diseases of Vegetables and Their Management Practices in Three Different Agroecological Zones in Cameroon.
[21]
Okolle, N. J., Afari-Sefa, V., Bidogeza, J., Tata, P. I., & Ngome, F. A. (2016). An Evaluation of Smallholder Farmers’ Knowledge, Perceptions, Choices and Gender Perspectives in Vegetable Pests and Diseases Control Practices in the Humid Tropics of Cameroon. International Journal of Pest Management, 62, 165-174. https://doi.org/10.1080/09670874.2016.1184772
[22]
Okolle, N. J., Monono, E. Y., Tabikam, A. I., Kinge, M. S., & Rodrique, M. P. F. (2022). Insecticide Use and Application in Cameroon.
[23]
Popp, J., Pető, K., & Nagy, J. (2013). Pesticide Productivity and Food Security. A Review. Agronomy for Sustainable Development, 33, 243-255. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13593-012-0105-x
[24]
Remoundou, K., Brennan, M., Sacchettini, G., Panzone, L., Butler-Ellis, M. C., Capri, E. et al. (2015). Perceptions of Pesticides Exposure Risks by Operators, Workers, Residents and Bystanders in Greece, Italy and the UK. Science of The Total Environment, 505, 1082-1092. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.10.099
[25]
Resende, G. C., Alvarenga, E. S., de Araújo, T. A., Campos, J. N., & Pincanço, M. C. (2016). Toxicity to Diaphaniahyalinata, Selectivity to Non-Target Species and Phytotoxicity of Furanones and Phthalide Analogues. Pest Management Science, 72, 1772-1777. https://doi.org/10.1002/ps.4210
[26]
Sabran, S. H., & Abas, A. (2021). Knowledge and Awareness on the Risks of Pesticide Use among Farmers at Pulau Pinang, Malaysia. SAGE Open, 11, 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440211064894
[27]
SAICM Community of Practice on HHPs Discussion Digest 21st October 2020, “Overview of the HHP Global Action Plan and Way Forward” SAICM_UCT HHP CoP Digest of the Global Action Plan Discussion 21 10 2020 Docx 2 AR_is.docx. https://saicmknowledge.org
[28]
Sarker, A., Islam, T., Rahman, S., Nandi, R., & Kim, J. (2021). Uncertainty of Pesticides in Foodstuffs, Associated Environmental and Health Risks to Humans—A Critical Case of Bangladesh with Respect to Global Food Policy. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 28, 54448-54465. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-16042-3
[29]
Sharma, A., Kumar, V., Shahzad, B., Tanveer, M., Sidhu, G. P. S., Handa, N. et al. (2019). Worldwide Pesticide Usage and Its Impacts on Ecosystem. SN Applied Sciences, 1, Article No. 1446. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42452-019-1485-1
[30]
Sounders, N. B., Sunjo, T. E., & Mbella, M. F. (2017). Effects of Rainfall and Temperature Oscillations on Maize Yields in Buea Sub-Division, Cameroon. Journal of Agricultural Science, 9, 63-72. https://doi.org/10.5539/jas.v9n2p63
[31]
Ssemugabo, C., Guwatudde, D., Ssempebwa, D., & Bradman, A. (2022). Pesticide Residue Trends in Fruits and Vegetables from Farm to Fork in Kampala Metropolitan Area, Uganda—A Mixed Methods Study. Environmental Health Insights. 16, 117863022211118. https://doi.org/10.1177/11786302221111866
[32]
Wannie, C. M., Nkemasong, N. A., Bate, B. G., & Betrand, A. (2018). Climate Variability Related Impacts on Market Gardening Crop Production in Buea Urban Area, Cameroon: Inquiry and Policy Implications towards Urban Food Security. International Journal of Science and Research, 9, 1519-1524.
[33]
WHO (2000). The WHO Recommended Classification of Pesticide by Hazard and Guidelines to Classification (60 p.). World Health Organization.
