Donlatip Perchpolcharoen. How farmers protect themselves against pesticides : a case study of farmers in Lomsak district Phetchabun province . Master's Degree(Environment). Mahidol University. : Mahidol University, 2004.
How farmers protect themselves against pesticides : a case study of farmers in Lomsak district Phetchabun province
Abstract:
The objective of this research is to study farmers’ behavior in self-protecting
from pesticides and factors that affect farmers’ behavior in self-protecting from
pesticides in Amphur Lomsak Phetchabun province. The researcher collected data
using the questionnaire, structural observation as well as in-depth interview. The
sample comprised a total of 183 farmers, of which number 15 were observed directly
by the researcher, and 13 key informants.
Quantitative research found that most farmers have correct behavior in selfprotecting
from pesticides at medium level. Annual income, information perception
about pesticides, knowledge in using pesticides, knowledge about the danger of using
pesticides, protecting behavior from using pesticides had a significant effect at the
level of 0.05 on behavior in self-protection from pesticides. Education level,
cultivation area, pesticides’ using period, health-related attention and danger
experienced from using pesticides had no significant effect on behavior in selfprotection
from pesticides.
Qualitative research by key informant interview and farmer observations
found that farmers still had a careless behavior in self-protection from pesticides.
This study suggested that the agricultural department and the health
department should work together to train and educate farmers about knowledge in
using pesticides through media such as weekly news local radio broadcast and set up
regulations to limit advertisements of pesticides. Local administrators and the health
department should work together to research the local knowledge to design the proper
protective clothing against pesticides as well as to develop agricultural technology
transfer service center. Moreover, dealers should instruct farmers to correctly and
properly use pesticides