Extent of Pesticide Use and Application Practices in Small-Scale Farms of Kikome, Makueni County

Abstract

Pesticides play a key role in agriculture by decreasing crop losses caused by insect pests. They increase crop production translating to national food security and contribute to improvement in human health by controlling disease vectors. Despite their role in controlling disease vectors, pesticides are toxic and have detrimental effects on human health, environment and biodiversity if used improperly. The present work reported findings of an assessment of pesticide use and application practices in Kikome village, Makueni County, Kenya. The major economic activity in this region is farming. Pests are problematic in this region due to high temperature that favors their growth and multiplication compelling farmers to use pesticides in their management. A survey involving 53 respondents, selected by purposive sampling, was carried out to assess pesticide use and application practices. Open ended questionnaires were administered through face to face interviews with the respondents. All the respondents interviewed during the study were using chemical pesticides as the sole method of pest management. Among various chemical compounds in the pesticides used by farmers, pyrethroid (87%), neonicotinoid (69.6%), and carbamate (63%) based pesticides were the most frequently used. Farmers used pesticides more frequently at flowering stage (44%) relative to other phenological stages. Most of the respondents (69.2%) had no access to extension services. This study reported poor farmers’ practices on pesticide use which threatens the diversity and abundance of insect pollinators.