Cocoa Farmers and Agrochemical Safety Compliance: Empirical Insights from Ghana
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Apr 29, 2024
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This study addresses the lack of empirical insights into the adherence of cocoa farmers to safety protocols. Specifically focused on agrochemical safety compliance, the research employs a quantitative approach and collects data from 385 cocoa farmers in the Nzema East Municipal through a structured questionnaire. The analysis utilizes mean, standard deviation, frequency, percentages, and Tobit regression models. The study finds that cocoa farmers exhibit a high level of knowledge and preparedness in agrochemical handling practices, positive agrochemical usage practices, and proper agrochemical storage practices. Cocoa farmers employ integrated pest management strategies, using diverse fertilizers, insecticides, fungicides, and herbicides to address crop health and productivity challenges. Tobit regression results showed that the extent of use of agrochemicals was significantly influenced by marital status, household size, farming experience, cooperative membership, and access to spraying machines and personal protective equipment. The research highlights the importance of integrating safety considerations into agricultural policies and practices, emphasizing the role of knowledge and awareness in influencing farmers' practices. It suggests the need for targeted interventions and educational programs to enhance agrochemical safety compliance among cocoa farmers.
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Tham-Agyekum, E., Ankuyi, F., Jones, E., Tierku, A., Sarfo, D., Bakang, J.-E., & Amoako, P. (2024). Cocoa Farmers and Agrochemical Safety Compliance: Empirical Insights from Ghana. Pelita Perkebunan (a Coffee and Cocoa Research Journal), 40(1), 91-104. https://doi.org/10.22302/iccri.jur.pelitaperkebunan.v40i1.589
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References
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Sangber-Dery, G. M., Tham-Agyekum, E. K., Ankuyi, F., Andivi Bakang, J. E., Lartey Lartey, N. N., Okorley, E. L., ... & Boansi, D. (2023). Farm operation injuries among cocoa farmers in Ghana: Investigating the causes, choice of treatment and compliance to safety standards. African Journal of Science, Technology, Innovation and Development, 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1080/20421338.2023.2247754
Tarla, D. N., Manu, I. N., Tamedjouong, Z. T., Kamga, A., & Fontem, D. A. (2015). The plight of pesticide applicators in Cameroon: Case of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) farmers in Foumbot. J. Agric. Environ. Sci, 4(2), 87-98.
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Ankuyi, F., Tham-Agyekum, E. K., Ankrah, D., Oduro-Owusu, A. Y., Bakang, J-E. A., Boansi D., & Asirifi, S. (2023). Beyond certification: Investigating the nexus between compliance with sustainable agriculture standards and livelihood assets of certified smallholder cocoa farmers in Ghana. Cogent Food & Agriculture, 9:1, 2256556. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311932.2023.2256556
Antwi, S. O., Eckert, E. C., Sabaque, C. V., Leof, E. R., Hawthorne, K. M., Bamlet, W. R., ... & Petersen, G. M. (2015). Exposure to environmental chemicals and heavy metals, and risk of pancreatic cancer. Cancer Causes & Control, 26, 1583-1591. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-015-0652-y
Atreya, K., Kattel, K., Pandit, S., Chaudhary, P., & Sipkhan, P. (2022). Understanding farmers’ knowledge, attitudes and practices of pesticide use in Nepal: synthesis of a systematic literature review. Archives of Agriculture and Environmental Science, 7(2), 278-287.
Attipoe, S. G., Jianmin, C., Opoku-Kwanowaa, Y., & Ohene-Sefa, F. (2020). The Determinants of Technical Efficiency of Cocoa Production in Ghana: An Analysis of the Role of Rural and Community Banks. Sustainable Production and Consumption, 23, 11-20.
Banner, K. R., Oppong-Kyeremeh, H., Amfo, B., Kuwornu, J. K., Martey, E., Chaa Kyire, S. K., ... & Nkansah, L. (2022). Willingness to participate in a cocoa pension scheme in Ghana: An application of discrete choice experiment. Cogent Business & Management, 9(1), 2132611.
Bassi, A. P., Ramyil, M. C. S., Ogundeko, T. O., Abisoye-Ogunniyan, A., & Builders, M. (2016). Farmer: agrochemical use and associated risk factors in Fadan Daji District of Kaura LGA, Kaduna State, Nigeria. https://doi.org/10.12691/ajmbr-4-3-1
Boedeker, W., Watts, M., Clausing, P., & Marquez, E. (2020). The global distribution of acute unintentional pesticide poisoning: estimations based on a systematic review. BMC Public Health, 20(1), 1-19. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-09939-0
Bosompem, M., & Mensah, E. (2012). Occupational hazards among cocoa farmers in the Birim south district in the eastern region of Ghana.
Danso-Abbeam, G., & Baiyegunhi, L. J. (2017). Adoption of agrochemical management practices among smallholder cocoa farmers in Ghana. African Journal of Science, Technology, Innovation and Development, 9(6), 717-728. https://doi.org/10.1080/20421338.2017.1380358
Fenga, C. (2016). Occupational exposure and risk of breast cancer. Biomedical Reports, 4(3), 282-292. https://doi.org/10.3892/br.2016.575
Gellings, C. W., & Parmenter, K. E. (2016). Energy efficiency in fertilizer production and use. Efficient Use and Conservation of Energy; Gellings, CW, Ed.; Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems, 123-136.
Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) (2019). 2010 Housing and Population Census, District Analytical Report. Accra, Ghana.
Ghana. Statistical Service. (2018). Ghana living standards survey round 6 (GLSS 6).: Poverty profile in Ghana (2005-2013). Ghana Statistical Service.
Haile, D., Tesfaye, B., & Assefa, F. (2022). Overview of Agrochemicals Application Practices on Tomato Farm by Smallholders at Koka, Meki and Ziway, Ethiopia. Turkish Journal of Agriculture-Food Science and Technology, 10(4), 781-786.
Hoque, M. N., Saha, S. M., Imran, S., Hannan, A., Seen, M. M. H., Thamid, S. S., & Tuz-zohra, F. (2022). Farmers' agrochemicals usage and willingness to adopt organic inputs: Watermelon farming in Bangladesh. Environmental Challenges, 7, 100451. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envc.2022.100451
Jayaraj, R., Megha, P., & Sreedev, P. (2016). Organochlorine pesticides, their toxic effects on living organisms and their fate in the environment. Interdisciplinary toxicology, 9(3-4), 90. https://doi.org/10.1515/intox-2016-0012
Lamichhane, J. R., Dachbrodt-Saaydeh, S., Kudsk, P., & Messéan, A. (2016). Toward a reduced reliance on conventional pesticides in European agriculture. Plant Disease, 100(1), 10-24. https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-05-15-0574-FE
Lewis-Mikhael, A. M., Bueno-Cavanillas, A., Guiron, T. O., Olmedo-Requena, R., Delgado-Rodríguez, M., & Jiménez-Moleón, J. J. (2016). Occupational exposure to pesticides and prostate cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Occupational and environmental medicine, 73(2), 134-144. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/oemed-2014-102692
Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA). (2016). Statistics, research and information directorate (SRID), Ministry of food and agriculture. March, 2016
Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA). (2017). Ministry of food and agriculture, Ghana. Agricultural sector progress report 2017.
Okoffo, E. D., Mensah, M., & Fosu-Mensah, B. Y. (2016). Pesticide exposure and the use of personal protective equipment by cocoa farmers in Ghana. Environmental Systems Research, 5, 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40068-016-0068-z
Olutegbe, N. S., & Sanni, A. O. (2021). Determinants of compliance to good Agricultural practices among cocoa farmers in Ondo state, Nigeria. Caraka Tani: Journal of Sustainable Agriculture, 36(1), 123. https://doi.org/10.20961/carakatani.v36i1.44894
Oyekale, A. S. (2018). Cocoa farmers’ compliance with safety precautions in spraying agrochemicals and use of personal protective equipment (PPE) in Cameroon. International journal of environmental research and public health, 15(2), 327.
Oyekunle, J. A. O., Akindolani, O. A., Sosan, M. B., & Adekunle, A. S. (2017). Organochlorine pesticide residues in dried cocoa beans obtained from cocoa stores at Ondo and Ile-Ife, Southwestern Nigeria. Toxicology reports, 4, 151-159.
Rahman, M. S., & Haque, Z. (2013). Adoption of selected wheat production technologies in two northern districts of Bangladesh. International Journal of Agricultural Research, Innovation and Technology (IJARIT), 3(2355-2020-1515), 5-11. https://doi.org/10.22004/ag.econ.305312
Sangber-Dery, G. M., Tham-Agyekum, E. K., Ankuyi, F., Andivi Bakang, J. E., Lartey Lartey, N. N., Okorley, E. L., ... & Boansi, D. (2023). Farm operation injuries among cocoa farmers in Ghana: Investigating the causes, choice of treatment and compliance to safety standards. African Journal of Science, Technology, Innovation and Development, 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1080/20421338.2023.2247754
Tarla, D. N., Manu, I. N., Tamedjouong, Z. T., Kamga, A., & Fontem, D. A. (2015). The plight of pesticide applicators in Cameroon: Case of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) farmers in Foumbot. J. Agric. Environ. Sci, 4(2), 87-98.
Tham-Agyekum, E.K., & Ankuyi, F. (2023). Climate Change Communication Among Ghanaian Cocoa Farmers: Social Media as a Driver. In: Leal Filho, W., Sima, M., Lange Salvia, A., Kovaleva, M., Manolas, E. (eds) University Initiatives on Climate Change Education and Research. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-25960-9_11-1
Tijani, A. A. (2006). Pesticide use practices and safety issues: the case of cocoa farmers in Ondo State, Nigeria. Journal of Human Ecology, 19(3), 183-190. https://doi.org/10.1080/09709274.2006.11905876
Tsufac, A. R., Awazi, N. P., & Yerima, B. P. K. (2020). Determinants and policy ramifications of cocoa farmers’ use of agrochemicals in cocoa-based (Theobroma cacao) agroforestry systems in Cameroon. J. Exp. Agric. Int, 42, 26-37. https://doi.org/10.9734/JEAI/2020/v42i1030611
UNEP. (2015). Report of the International Conference on Chemicals Management on the work of its fourth session; United Nations Environment Programme: Geneva, Switzerland, 2015; Report No.: SAICM/ICCM.4/15. http://www.saicm.org/Portals/12/documents/meetings/ICCM4/doc/K1606013_e.pdf
Van Maele-Fabry, G., Lantin, A. C., Hoet, P., & Lison, D. (2010). Childhood leukaemia and parental occupational exposure to pesticides: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Cancer Causes & Control, 21, 787-809. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-010-9516-7
Wolf, D. C., Bhuller, Y., Cope, R., Corvaro, M., Currie, R. A., Doe, J.& Déglin, S. E. (2022). Transforming the evaluation of agrochemicals. Pest Management Science, 78(12), 5049-5056.
Worland, J. (2017). Why Researchers Are Concerned This Pesticide May Cause Cancer. Available online: http://time.com/4711846/roundup-weed-killer-cancer/
Yamane, T., (1967). Statistics: An introductory analysis (No. HA29 Y2 1967).