Determinants of Compliance with Safety Measures in Pesticide Use among Small-Scale Farmers in Uganda

Globally, the use of pesticides is growing day by day, but adequate compliance to safety measures of pesticide use in developing economies is still low and farmers are directly exposed to chemicals which have a negative impact on their health. There is a global challenge mainly manifested in developing economies where compliance to safety measures in the use of pesticides especially by farmers is very low resulting in health challenges. This study therefore aimed at assessing the determinants of compliance to safety measures in the use of pesticide among local farmers in Miirya Sub County of Masindi District, Uganda. The objectives of the study were to identify the individual and institutional determinants related to compliance, then establish the level of compliance and finally determine the association between the different factors and compliance to safety measures in the use of pesticides among small-scale farmers. The target population are the farmers in the Miirya sub-county in the three parishes of Bigando, Isimba and Kigulya parishes and there are 3562 farmers. Systematic random sampling was used to select the final 387 respondents, and a research-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. Data were analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistics, at a 95 % level of significance. Chi-square analysis and binary logistic regression analysis were used to test for significance.

The study found that compliance with pesticide safety measures was low (30.2%). Findings also showed that the majority of the respondents were 40 years and above (66.7%), primary graduates (61.8%), married (84.0%), had high knowledge level (94.8%), negative attitudes towards safe use of pesticides (70.8%), high-risk perception (91.7%), no influence of peers (57.9%), using pesticide toxicity classes II and III (66.7%), never been trained on PPEs (53.2%), never received inspection in the past year (70.5%), and SOPs in place (81.4%). The bivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that farmer’s attitudes; risk perceptions and standard operating procedures (SOPs) in place were significantly associated with compliance with pesticide safety measures (p < 0.05).

The most significant individual factors influencing compliance among the local farmers were established to be attitude and risk perception. These two factors are also critical in increasing compliance in general. The institutional factor most significant was established to be adherence to the standard operating procedures. This factor can easily be implemented through training and exposure of the farmers before and during farming activities. In conclusion, the level of compliance to safe measures in the use of pesticides among farmers was low. Most of the farmers were older than 40 years and had a primary school level of education, were married but had a high appreciation of risk in using pesticides. There is a need to work on improving farmers’ attitudes, sensitizing them about the risks attached to the use of pesticides, and providing SOPs for pesticide use on their farms.

Once the above-mentioned significant factors are targeted, there is bound to be a positive change in the adherence to safety measures. The study therefore strongly recommends that there is a need for local farmers to be made aware of the risks attached to improper use of pesticides and the reinforcement of provisions and adherence to standard operating procedures by the relevant authorities.