AWARENESS OF HEALTH IMPLICATIONS OF AGROCHEMICALS USE AMONG CROP FARMERS IN BAUCHI AND TORO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS OF BAUCHI STATE, NIGERIA.

Abstract

The study assessed the awareness on health implication of agrochemical usage among crop farmers in Bauchi State. Multistage stage sampling techniques was used in selecting 156 farmers for the study. Primary data were obtained through the administration of questionnaires and data analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The results reveal that most (96.2%) of the farmers were male, middle-aged (76.3%) with relatively small household size (64.8%). Similarly, majority (66%) of the respondents engaged into trading as other forms of occupations besides farming. The result also shows that farmers used fungicides (49%), fertilizers (12.8%) and insecticides (12.2%). The primary reasons for using agrochemical were to increase yield (96.8%) and extension agents’ advice (87.2%). The result further shows that farmers mainly relied on self-experience (92.3%), affordability (92.3%) and extension agents' advice (71.2%) to determine the types of agrochemical to be use. The result further shows that access to extension services, frequency of training received, and types of agrochemical usage were negative and significant influencing the use of agrochemical at (P<0.01), while access to credit sources was positive and significant at (P<0.05) influencing farmers use of agrochemicals. Furthermore, majority of the farmers reported experiencing various health challenges like eye problems (92.9%) and stomach irritation (87.2%). The study concluded that the farmers were aware of agrochemical usage in crop production, despite its documented effects on human health. It is recommended that farmers should form cooperatives and pull down resources to sponsor private extension services to improve access to extension and also increase their access to media channels to promote alternative information channels on the use of agrochemical in the study area.