Pesticides and its hazardous effects on the Benguet vegetable farmers

ABSTRACT

Two thousand vegetable farmers of Benguet Province were interviewed on their use of pesticides and the effects they have experienced while handling the same Benguet produces 70 percent of the total vegetable needs of the country. The growing demand for high quality vegetables by the consumers have made the farmers become too dependent on the use of pesticides. They however, over use and abuse the use of the chemicals by cocktailing various brands or using banned chemicals like the "miracle powder" or cyanide. Thus, they are continuously exposed to the deleterous effects of the chemicals including their families, domestic animals and wild life. The environment is also polluted creating an ecological imbalance. The consumers have likewise suspected the safety of the vegetables they produce and if unchecked will lead to the death of the lucrative vegetable industry Itchy skin, dry lips, watery and itchy red eyes that lasts for days, abdominal pain, chest pain, muscle cramps, body malaise, inappetens, dizzines, epistaxis, irregular and discolored nails were some of the adverse effects the vegetables farmers have experienced while handling pesticides The vegetable farmers are largely non-compliant to the product specifications of the chemicals, dilution and disposal of used chemical containers Their indiscriminate use and handling of pesticides are to a great extent borne out of misinformation, sheer negligence and even low literacy An intensive educational campaign is needed to assist the vegetable farmers of Benguet.