title: Too much to handle? Pesticide dependence of smallholder vegetable farmers in Southeast Asia.
abstract: This study aimed to understand farmers' knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding agricultural pest management and synthetic pesticide use in Southeast Asia. Data were used from 900 farm households producing leaf mustard (Brassica juncea (L.) Czern. et Coss.) and yard-long bean (Vigna unguiculata subsp. sesquipedalis (L.) Verdc.) in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. Farmers heavily depended on synthetic pesticides as their main method of pest control. Most farmers were aware of the adverse health effects associated with pesticide use and covered body parts while spraying, but also considered pesticides to be highly effective and indispensable farm inputs. Farmers were largely unable to distinguish between common beneficial and harmful arthropods. Greater knowledge about this was associated with less pesticide use while greater awareness of pesticide health risks was associated with fewer observed poisoning symptoms. For the average farm and while controlling for other factors, farmers who sought advice from friends and neighbors used 45% less pesticide, but those who sought advice from pesticide shopkeepers used 251% more pesticide. Pesticide use was 42% less when a woman was in charge of pest management and 31% less when farmers had adopted biopesticides. These findings suggest relevant entry points for interventions aimed at reducing pesticide dependence.
authors.affiliation: World Vegetable Center, P.O. Box 1010 (Kasetsart University), Bangkok 10903, Thailand. Electronic address: pepijn.schreinemachers@worldveg.org.
authors.forename: Pepijn
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schreinemachers
authors.affiliation: World Vegetable Center, P.O. Box 42, Shanhua, Tainan 74199, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hsiao-Pu
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Fruit and Vegetable Research Institute (FAVRI), Trauquy, Gialam, Hanoi, Viet Nam.
authors.forename: Thi Tan Loc
authors.initials: TTL
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.affiliation: Royal University of Agriculture, Chamkardaung, Dangkor District, P.O. Box 2696, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
authors.forename: Borarin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Buntong
authors.affiliation: Mekong Development Center, Unit 48, Nong Niew Village, Sikhottabong District, Vientiane Capital 01000, Lao Democratic People's Republic.
authors.forename: Lilao
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bouapao
authors.affiliation: World Vegetable Center, P.O. Box 1010 (Kasetsart University), Bangkok 10903, Thailand.
authors.forename: Shriniwas
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gautam
authors.affiliation: Fruit and Vegetable Research Institute (FAVRI), Trauquy, Gialam, Hanoi, Viet Nam.
authors.forename: Nhu Thinh
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: Le
authors.affiliation: Royal University of Agriculture, Chamkardaung, Dangkor District, P.O. Box 2696, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
authors.forename: Thira
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pinn
authors.affiliation: Clean Agriculture Development Center (CADC), Ministry of Agriculture, Vientiane Capital, Lao Democratic People's Republic.
authors.forename: Phimchai
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vilaysone
authors.affiliation: World Vegetable Center, P.O. Box 42, Shanhua, Tainan 74199, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ramasamy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Srinivasan
keywords: Agriculture; Cambodia; Integrated pest management; Laos; Pesticide risk; Vietnam