Knowledge and practice of pesticide used in agriculture and its effect on health of vegetable growers in Mahalaxmi municipality, Dhankuta

Abstract

Knowledge and Practice of Pesticide Used in Agriculture and its Effect on Health of Vegetable Growers in Mahalaxmi Municipality, Dhankuta District is a representative vision of the reality. Main thrust of the study is to find out the social and economic background of the study area, to analyze the knowledge and attitude and practice on pesticides used among the vegetable growers and to assess the effect of pesticides on health of vegetable growers This study has mainly based on the quantitative and descriptive research design.In this study, both primary and secondary sources of data have been used Primary data mainly used to present and analyze the Pesticides practices in the study areas. There is 1450 population and 214 household of farmers in the Marekatahare Ghumaune of Mahalaxmi Municipality-1 of Dhankuta. All those were the population of this study area in order to conduct this study. Research has selected 140 farmers applying simple random sampling method (Lottery Method). Interview was the main tools of data collection. The researcher was made different sets of interview questions for farmers. The interview schedule was pretested in 12 household in Marekatahare Ghumaune 1 of Mahalaxmi Municipality Dhankuta. The tools were modified and finalized according to the advice of the supervisor and pre-test result. In data collection procedures, the researcher personally was visited each of the selected farmers and introduced herself about the study area and explained aim of the visit. The researcher was requested them to answer the questions based on the interview schedule. Pest control as the application of technology, in the context of biological knowledge, to achieve a satisfactory reduction, it should be appreciated that the decisions whether or not to apply control measures are usually required before pest populations reach the damage threshold. The concept of pest management depends on the population dynamics of the pest and the level of the damage caused by them. The use of pesticides for plant protection has steadily increased. Increasing demands for chemical pesticides resulted in private dealerships selling and distributing pesticides throughout the country. Pest control procedures may be categorized under different headings such as cultural, biological, chemical etc. However, there is now a strong tendency to use two or more approaches together in a system of integrated control and is called as “Integrated Pest Management”. Integrated Pest Management is therefore, can be defined as blending of two or more control measures in order to control pests below economic injury level. The seasonal appearance of pest during tea cultivation necessitates timely management of the crop through pesticides. Pesticides due to it’s highly toxicity adversely affect the balance between pest and their natural enemies like predators and parasitoids on many crops; including tea. An avoidance of pesticide during the main period of predator activity is desirable but in vegetable the periods of the activities of the major pests and their predators get synchronized at different density levels. However, care should be taken not to overdose on pesticides because these can lead to a high residue level of toxic substances in the vegetable. Pest that commonly attack vegetable crops includes grasshopper mites, thrips, jassids, moth, beetles and defoliating caterpillars. The presence of pesticide residues in food commodities has always a matter of serious concern. The level of pesticide residue in foodstuffs are generally legislated so as to minimize or unnecessary intake of pesticides.