Mal practice of pesticides application in three selected districts.

Abstract

Pesticides and fertilizers are the two groups of Agrochemicals. If misused either of these can cause poisoning or other adverse effects on man, environment and living organisms. This study was focused on the mal practices found in pesticide applications in vegetable and rice cultivations in three selected districts, Hambantota, Matara and Nuwaraeliya. Three villages were selected from each district. It was revealed that vegetable growers were using pesticides, five times higher than the rice growers and they did not observe the pre harvesting period. Only 30% farmers showed concern about this phenomenon. In Nuwaraeliya 70%, Hambantota 80% and Matara 60% farmers were using significantly high concentration (P < 0.1) of pesticides than the doses recommend by the Department of Agriculture, Sri Lanka. It was revealed that some restricted pesticides are also used by farmers in Sooriyawewa & Nuwaraeliya. When compared with Matara district, Nuwaraeliya & Hambantota farmers were using significantly high doses (P < 0.1) of pesticides. It was surprised to see that all farmers who were applying pesticides to fields as a profession were having only daughters in their next generation.