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Pesticide Knowledge and Safety Practices among Farm Workers in Kuwait: Results of a Survey

Author

Listed:
  • Mustapha F.A. Jallow

    (Environment and Life Sciences Research Center, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, P.O. Box 24885, Safat 13109, Kuwait)

  • Dawood G. Awadh

    (Environment and Life Sciences Research Center, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, P.O. Box 24885, Safat 13109, Kuwait)

  • Mohammed S. Albaho

    (Environment and Life Sciences Research Center, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, P.O. Box 24885, Safat 13109, Kuwait)

  • Vimala Y. Devi

    (Environment and Life Sciences Research Center, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, P.O. Box 24885, Safat 13109, Kuwait)

  • Binson M. Thomas

    (Environment and Life Sciences Research Center, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, P.O. Box 24885, Safat 13109, Kuwait)

Abstract

The unsafe and indiscriminate use of pesticides in agriculture represents a major hazard to the environment and human health. The aim of this study was to assess the levels of knowledge, attitude and practices of Kuwaiti farmers regarding the safe use of pesticides. A total of 250 farmers participated in this study through in-depth interviews and observations on-farm. The majority of the farmers acknowledged that pesticides were harmful to their health (71%) and the environment (65%). However, farmers’ level of knowledge of pesticide safety is insufficient. Over 70% of the farmers did not read or follow pesticide label instructions, and 58% did not use any personal protective equipment (PPE) when handling pesticides. Educated farmers were significantly more likely to use PPE compared with famers with limited formal education (χ 2 = 9.89, p < 0.05). Storage of pesticides within living areas was reported by 20% of farmers. When disposing of pesticide wastes, respondents adopted unsafe practices such as discarding, incinerating, or burying empty pesticide containers on-farm, or reusing the containers. Farmers also reported disposing leftover pesticide solution or old pesticide stocks on-farm or in the sewer. A significant number (82%) of the farmers reported at least one symptom of acute pesticide poisoning. Although farmers’ knowledge of pesticide hazards was high, the reported safety measures were poor. Comprehensive intervention measures to reduce the health and environmental risks of pesticides are needed, including pesticide safety training programs for farmers, stringent enforcement of pesticide laws, and promoting integrated pest management and non-synthetic methods of pest control.

Suggested Citation

  • Mustapha F.A. Jallow & Dawood G. Awadh & Mohammed S. Albaho & Vimala Y. Devi & Binson M. Thomas, 2017. "Pesticide Knowledge and Safety Practices among Farm Workers in Kuwait: Results of a Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-15, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:14:y:2017:i:4:p:340-:d:93979
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kishor Atreya & Fred Johnsen & Bishal Sitaula, 2012. "Health and environmental costs of pesticide use in vegetable farming in Nepal," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 14(4), pages 477-493, August.
    2. Alam, Shamma Adeeb & Wolff, Hendrik, 2016. "Do Pesticide Sellers Make Farmers Sick? Health, Information, and Adoption of Technology in Bangladesh," Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Western Agricultural Economics Association, vol. 41(1), pages 1-34, January.
    3. Eugene Jones & Anabela Mabota & Donald W. Larson, 2009. "Farmers' knowledge of health risks and protective gear associated with pesticide use on cotton in Mozambique," Journal of Developing Areas, Tennessee State University, College of Business, vol. 42(2), pages 267-282, January-M.
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    Cited by:

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    4. Manoch Naksata & Anucha Watcharapasorn & Surat Hongsibsong & Ratana Sapbamrer, 2020. "Development of Personal Protective Clothing for Reducing Exposure to Insecticides in Pesticide Applicators," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-10, May.
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    6. Yuhan Zhang & Mengling Zhang & Zhenlin Weng & Xueping Gao & Wenmei Liao, 2023. "The Influence of Social Norms and Environmental Regulations on Rural Households’ Pesticide Packaging Waste Disposal Behavior," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(22), pages 1-18, November.
    7. Wijdane Rhioui & Jamila Al Figuigui & Rachid Lahlali & Salah-Eddine Laasli & Abdellatif Boutagayout & Moussa El Jarroudi & Saâdia Belmalha, 2023. "Towards Sustainable Vegetable Farming: Exploring Agroecological Alternatives to Chemical Products in the Fez-Meknes Region of Morocco," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-23, April.
    8. Hans-Peter Hutter & Abdul Wali Khan & Kathrin Lemmerer & Peter Wallner & Michael Kundi & Hanns Moshammer, 2018. "Cytotoxic and Genotoxic Effects of Pesticide Exposure in Male Coffee Farmworkers of the Jarabacoa Region, Dominican Republic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-11, August.
    9. Mustapha F. A. Jallow & Dawood G. Awadh & Mohammed S. Albaho & Vimala Y. Devi & Nisar Ahmad, 2017. "Monitoring of Pesticide Residues in Commonly Used Fruits and Vegetables in Kuwait," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-12, July.
    10. Chitpasong Kousonsavath, 2022. "Handbook on the Human Impact of Agriculture," Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society, vol. 66(4), pages 914-916, October.
    11. Thanawat Rattanawitoon & Wattasit Siriwong & Derek Shendell & Nancy Fiedler & Mark Gregory Robson, 2023. "An Evaluation of a Pesticide Training Program to Reduce Pesticide Exposure and Enhance Safety among Female Farmworkers in Nan, Thailand," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(17), pages 1-18, August.
    12. Ratana Sapbamrer & Manoch Naksata & Surat Hongsibsong & Jiraporn Chittrakul & Wilawan Chaiut, 2022. "Efficiency of Gum Rosin-Coated Personal Protective Clothing to Protect against Chlorpyrifos Exposure in Applicators," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(5), pages 1-11, February.
    13. Zivanayi, W & Hlangothi, B & Rasana, NH, 2023. "Knowledge And Perceptions Of Smallholder Farmers Regarding Solanum Incanum L. Use As A Pesticide In Mkoba Community In Gweru, Zimbabwe," African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development (AJFAND), African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development (AJFAND), vol. 23(5), May.
    14. Khalid M. Khan & Janesh Karnati & Ipsita Hamid & David Koceja & Mohammad Zahirul Islam & Md Alfazal Khan, 2019. "Residential Proximity to Agricultural Fields and Neurological and Mental Health Outcomes in Rural Adults in Matlab, Bangladesh," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(18), pages 1-12, September.
    15. Asghar Bagheri & Naier Emami & Christos A. Damalas, 2023. "Monitoring point source pollution by pesticide use: an analysis of farmers’ environmental behavior in waste disposal," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 25(7), pages 6711-6726, July.
    16. Simrin Kafle & Abhinav Vaidya & Bandana Pradhan & Erik Jørs & Sharad Onta, 2021. "Factors Associated with Practice of Chemical Pesticide Use and Acute Poisoning Experienced by Farmers in Chitwan District, Nepal," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-14, April.
    17. Hans-Peter Hutter & Michael Kundi & Kathrin Lemmerer & Michael Poteser & Lisbeth Weitensfelder & Peter Wallner & Hanns Moshammer, 2018. "Subjective Symptoms of Male Workers Linked to Occupational Pesticide Exposure on Coffee Plantations in the Jarabacoa Region, Dominican Republic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-10, September.

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