Title : Farmers’ Awareness on using Pesticides and Its Environmental Impacts in Thongwa Township  (A Case Study on West Village)

Keywords : agriculture, pesticides, farmers, knowledge, awareness

Authors : Nyein Nyein Ei

Description : The agriculture sector is one of the most important sectors for the country’s economy. In Myanmar, every farmer usually uses pesticides in agriculture for increasing yield. Pesticides can cause many problems for human health and environment through water, air and soil. The main objective of the study is to assess the knowledge and practices concerned with use of pesticides of the farmers in Thongwa Township. To achieve the objective, one hundred and twenty farm workers in West Village were selected by applying simple random sampling method. Data collection was carried out by doing as the case study, face to face interviews with questionnaires. To analyze the data, descriptive statistics are used concerning frequency and percentage. By studying this research, pesticides are used more in various types of pests control in growing pulse and beans than paddy cultivation. The study shows that most of farmers do not wear protective materials when spraying pesticides because they are not well-educated and not aware of safety precaution measures. And also, most of the farmers are lack of awareness about registered pesticides. Although they know the negative impacts of pesticides on health and environment, they do not usually practise the safety manners. Farmers dispose the pesticide bottles and bags near the farm. Over half of farmers get information about the knowledge of using pesticides from pesticide sellers who prioritise selling pesticides to farmers for their self-profit. The study recommends that it is necessary to educate farmers for wearing protective equipment and on the proper disposal of pesticide bottles. The pesticide dealers need to explain how to use pesticides safely and also government should widely inform and induce the public about registered pesticides via training programs.