Impact of Pesticides Use on Farmers' Health: Evidence from Bangladesh

Abstract

A research was undertaken to find the impact of pesticides use on farmers' health. A survey was conducted with structural questionnaires to collect information on pesticides use, practices, risk perceptions, precaution and health effect from 165 farmers of five districts in Bangladesh. The data were analysed using different software in the University of Hohenheim. lt was found that a number of villagers poisoned by pesticides and the mortality rate were 10%. The main causes of poisoning were accidentals ingestion. The poisoning in children are also remarkable wilh 24% of total reported cases. The poisoning occurred from different pesticides but the villagers could not remember the name of brand. There was no record available in hospital or health centre on poisoning from pesticides. The general linear model produced in SAS software was made for analysing the variance and finding the effect of pesticides on operators' health. The analysis indicated that the amount of pesticides applied, training, using protection measures and number of exposures were significantly associated with the probability of farmers' health impairment from pesticides use However, the other variables such as active ingredient, categories of hazards, education, training on lPM, body index, age and income had no statistically significance on the mutilation on farmers' health. The research concluded that poisoning from pesticides could be reduced significantly by trained the farmers/operators for using correct dose, taking proper protective measures and averting behaviour in handling pesticides.