Abstract:
In Sri Lanka, Nuwara-Eliya District is most popular for upcountry vegetable cultivation in Sri
Lanka. Potato, carrot, leeks, beetroot, and cabbage are the most important vegetable crops
cultivated in the Nuwara Eliya area. The study was conducted to determine the types of
pesticides that are frequently used by farmers, to estimate the usage pattern of pesticides, to
find out determinants of pesticides used by farmers, and to estimate knowledge about safety
measures used by farmers. Structured questionnaires were designed to gather the required
information. 10% of farmers who engaged in vegetable cultivation were selected through
random sampling from various Grama Niladari Divisions, and they were interviewed at their
doorsteps, and field observations were also made. The survey stated that most of the respondent
farmers were male (84.5%), within 41-50 years of age bracket (33.6%), and had achieved a
secondary education (20.9%). Maximum of respondents (30.9%) had 11-20 years of experience
in farming. The study stated that the chemical control method was the prime method adopted by
all farmers in controlling the pest and diseases. It was noted from the survey that 60.4% of
farmers applied the pesticides mixed with some other pesticides. The frequently (16 times) used
insecticides were Profenofos, Carbosulfan, Chlorantraniliprole and Spinosad and fungicide was
Mancozeb. The analysis stated that 91.8% of farmers in the study area used high dosages, where
potato farmers applied more than 20 times per season. The results showed a significant positive
correlation between age, experience, and mixing pesticides, whereas a significant negative
correlation between education and mixing pesticides. The survey exhibited that 63.6% of
farmers store pesticide bottles on a safe location, which is inaccessible to children. Ninety
percentages of the farmers are throwing or dumping the empty pesticide bottles in bush areas
adjacent to cultivation fields. It was concluded that Sri Lankan farmers are using hazardous
pesticides with an increased frequency of applications and mixing different pesticides to fight
against pest resistance.
