Farmers’ Knowledge of Insecticides Usage and Hazard in Some Selected Communities in Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State, Nigeria

Abstract

A study was carried out to assess the farmer’s knowledge of insecticides usage and hazard in some selected communities in Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State. Data collected was analyzed using descriptive statistics. The result revealed that the majority (69 percent) of the respondents were men, 53 percent of them were within the age range of 41 – 60 years, and 50 percent of them had a family size of 1-5 persons. Many of the respondents (36 percent) had one form of formal education or the other. Most of the respondents 62 percent got their farmland through inheritance. Results also revealed that the majority of the respondents (95 percent) are aware of insecticides, with 55 percent using them to spray their crops. Many respondents 96 percent used insecticides before; the majority of the respondents 75 percent used insecticides to control insect pests in their homes and farms. The findings revealed that the majority (91 percent) of the respondents were aware of insecticides hazard and 70 percent are aware of the health implication of these insecticides and result from the negative effect of insecticides revealed that a high proportion of 40 percent strongly agreed on the negative effect of insecticides. More so the majority 89 percent of respondents are aware of safety and precaution measures, and 82 percent agreed that the use of protective clothes during spraying is a safe and precaution measure. It is concluded that the majority of the farmers are aware of insecticides and their health hazards. It is recommended that farmers should be more sensitized about the danger of insecticides and when handling them proper care should be taken and should always use protective clothes during their application (spray) to protect themselves and avoid body contact.