Current status of pesticide use among rice farmers in Cambodia

Abstract Recently, serious haze pollution has not only threatened the human health and food security, but also seems to have aggravated the unscientific use of pesticides by rice farmers in rural area of China. Using original data on haze pollution across China, combined with rural household survey data collected from 2014 to 2018, we conducted a detailed empirical study on the effects of haze pollution on pesticide use by rice farmers based on the theory of risk aversion. The empirical results revealed that haze pollution with higher levels of PM2.5 positively impacted the use of chemical pesticides in the rice cultivation. More precisely, with 1% increases in PM2.5 concentration, the amount of pesticide application per mu increased by 7.9%, and the average pesticide fee per mu increased by 2.3%, respectively. The results were robust to a series of tests that addressed potential endogeneity concerns, including omitted variable bias, measurement error and reverse causality. We then examined the heterogeneous effects of haze pollution increase on the use of chemical pesticides and found that the effects of haze pollution on the use of chemical pesticides to be weaker for rice farmer with more rice-planting experience, those with smaller cultivated area of rice, however, the effects on the amount of chemical pesticide application per mu to be weaker for those with rice insurance, but the effects on the average chemical pesticide fee per mu to be stronger for those with rice insurance. Our findings provide important policy implications for pesticide risk management in rural areas of developing countries.

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The role of crop insurance in reducing pesticide use: Evidence from rice farmers in China

Journal of Environmental Management ◽

10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.114456 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 306 ◽

pp. 114456

Author(s):

Houjian Li ◽

Kaihua Yuan ◽

Andi Cao ◽

Xuemei Zhao ◽

Lili Guo

Keyword(s):

Crop Insurance ◽

Pesticide Use ◽

Rice Farmers

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Assessment of the current status of pesticide use in triple-rice crops in Hoa Long commune, Lai Vung district, Dong Thap province, Vietnam

International Journal of Environment Agriculture and Biotechnology ◽

10.22161/ijeab.54.17 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 5 (4) ◽

pp. 975-980

Author(s):

Nguyen Thanh Giao

Keyword(s):

Current Status ◽

Pesticide Use

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Differences among Thai Agricultural Workers’ Health, Working Conditions, and Pesticide Use by Farm Type

Annals of Work Exposures and Health ◽

10.1093/annweh/wxx099 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 62 (2) ◽

pp. 167-181 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Pornpimol Kongtip ◽

Noppanun Nankongnab ◽

Redeerat Mahaboonpeeti ◽

Sasivimol Bootsikeaw ◽

Kiattisak Batsungnoen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Working Conditions ◽

Informal Sector ◽

Nasal Congestion ◽

Agricultural Workers ◽

Pesticide Use ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Rice Farmers ◽

Farm Type ◽

Exposure Prevention ◽

Good Exposure

Abstract More than 11 million Thai people (38%) work in agriculture, but since most are in the informal sector, government enforcement and support are very limited. As a result, working conditions on Thai farms vary greatly, putting the health of many agricultural workers at risk. A cross-sectional study in three Thai provinces collected information on the work activities and conditions of 424 farmers representing five farm types: rice, vegetable, flower, rice/vegetable, and flower/vegetable. The agricultural workers were mainly women (60%); their average age was 53 but ranged from 18 to 87 years. More than 64% worked more than 5 days/week. Seventy-four percent of them had only primary school education. A number of the health and hazardous working conditions surveyed were significantly different by farm type. Rice farmers were found to have the highest prevalence of allergies, nasal congestion, wheezing, and acute symptoms after pesticide use, while flower farmers had the lowest prevalence of these health outcomes. Rice farmers reported the highest prevalence of hazardous working conditions including high noise levels, working on slippery surfaces, sitting or standing on a vibrating machine, spills of chemicals/pesticides, and sharp injuries. The lowest prevalence of these working conditions (except noise) was reported by flower farmers. Vegetable farmers reported the highest prevalence knee problems, while rice farmers had the lowest prevalence. Among these farmers, more than 27 different types of pesticides were reported in use during the past year, with the majority reporting use once a month. The flower/vegetable farming group reported the highest frequency of good exposure prevention practices during pesticide use. They were the most likely to report using cotton or rubber gloves or a disposable paper masks during insecticide spraying. Those farmers who only grew vegetables had the lowest frequency of good exposure prevention practices, including use of personal protective equipment. The economic cost of work-related injuries and illnesses among informal sector agricultural workers in Thailand is unknown and in need of study. Gaps in the regulations covering pesticide sales allow farmers to purchase pesticides without adequate training in their safe use. Training targeted to farm type regarding safe pesticide use and the prevention of accidents and musculoskeletal disorders is needed. Studies of chronic health effects among Thai farmers are needed, with special emphasis on respiratory, metabolic disease and cancer.

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Effects of haze pollution on pesticide use by rice farmers: fresh evidence from rural areas of China

Environmental Science and Pollution Research ◽

10.1007/s11356-021-15133-5 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Lili Guo ◽

Andi Cao ◽

Minjun Huang ◽

Houjian Li

Keyword(s):

Rural Areas ◽

Pesticide Use ◽

Rice Farmers ◽

Haze Pollution

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Hematological Indices of Pesticide Exposure Rice Farmers in Southern Thailand

Kesmas National Public Health Journal ◽

10.21109/kesmas.v14i1.2812 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Wiyada Kwanhian ◽

Supabhorn Yimthiang ◽

Siriuma Jawjit ◽

Junjira Mahaboon ◽

Udomratana Vattanasit ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pesticide Residues ◽

Ache Activity ◽

Pesticide Exposure ◽

Hematological Parameters ◽

Pesticide Use ◽

Rice Farming ◽

Occupational Groups ◽

Hematological Indices ◽

Rice Farmers ◽

Southern Thailand

The most common pesticides used in rice farming are organophosphates and carbamates. These pesticides inhibit acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, resulting in excessive levels of acetylcholine accumulation and disrupted neurotransmission. This study compared AChE activity and hematological parameters between pesticide-using rice farmers, non-pesticide using rice farmers, and non-agricultural occupational groups (non-farmers). Pesticide residues that accumulated in rice and the water and soil of the study area were also determined. AChE activity of all participants showed 10 from 87 samples (11.49%) as borderline depressed, with 50% of these being pesticide-using farmers. Most of the hematological parameters were normal in all samples. However, platelet numbers of pesticide self-spraying rice farmers were significantly lower than non-self-spraying rice farmers. The results suggested that the use of pesticides during rice farming affected AChE activity and some hematological cells. In addition, pesticide residues in soil, water and rice in rice fields using pesticides were higher than in non-pesticide use areas. Results confirmed that the exposure rates of farmers using pesticides were at higher risk than farmers who did not use pesticides

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Knowledge, attitude and practice of pesticide use and serum cholinesterase levels among rice farmers in Nakhon Nayok Province, Thailand

Journal of Health Research ◽

10.1108/jhr-09-2019-0204 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 34 (5) ◽

pp. 379-387

Author(s):

Sapsatree Santaweesuk ◽

Paisit Boonyakawee ◽

Wattasit Siriwong

Keyword(s):

Health Effects ◽

Pesticide Exposure ◽

Serum Cholinesterase ◽

Pesticide Use ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Content Type ◽

Rice Farmers ◽

Attitude And Practice ◽

The Government ◽

Knowledge Attitude And Practice

PurposeThe study purposes were to investigate the knowledge, attitude and practice of pesticide use and to determine the levels of serum cholinesterase among rice farmers in Nakhon Nayok province, Thailand.Design/methodology/approachA cross-sectional study was carried out in communities in Nakhon Nayok Province, Thailand. Multistage random sampling was employed, selecting one person per each rice farmer household. Data was collected from 188 rice farmers using a structured face-to-face interview questionnaire. A reactive-paper finger-blood test was used to determine SChE levels. Chi-square test was used to determine the relationship between the practice of pesticide use and SChE levels.FindingsThe results indicated that the rice farmers had a fairly good knowledge and a neutral attitude toward the practice of pesticide use. Most of the respondents had a fairly proper practice of pesticide use. However, serum cholinesterase levels of the farmers were unsafe and risky. It signified that 68.1% of the farmers had a health risk from using pesticides. The prevalence of abnormal SChE levels among rice farmers with improper use was significantly higher than that among rice farmers who had a proper use.Research limitations/implicationsThe result provided a guideline for operational planning and control and prevention of health effects from pesticides use in farmers or other agriculturists who use pesticides in cultivation.Practical implicationsConcerned local agencies especially health-related agencies are able to conduct a training to educate and build safety awareness including monitoring continuously the safety behaviors toward pesticides use. It can be implemented by establishing leaders from health promoting hospitals led by village health volunteers, community leaders and participation from farmers to collaboratively monitor proper use of pesticides beginning with health surveillance in the abnormal SChE group to be screened for pesticide exposure every six months or one year.Social implicationsFarmers gained knowledge and understanding of pesticides use and used it properly, which resulted in a reduction of pesticide residues in body as well as in the environment. In addition, the government policy should legislate measures for related agencies to promote proper use of pesticides. For instance, Department of Agriculture, Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives should regularly supervise, monitor and inspect the production and distribution of pesticides in local shops and also systematically encourage agriculturists to adopt using pesticides that are less harmful.Originality/valueHaving knowledge, understanding and proper practices toward pesticides use, farmers can reduce health effects of pesticides use in themselves and family members.

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