Pesticides are indispensable for enhancing agricultural productivity and widely used by farmers to control pests and diseases, with increasing application documented in various studies worldwide. However, mismanagement and misuse pose serious health and environmental risks. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) of cucumber and watermelon farmers in selected districts of the Coast Region, Tanzania. Pwani is a key supplier to major marketplaces in the Dar es Salaam region and to foreign markets, particularly Kenya. A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted among 169 cucurbits farmers from seven Wards across three administrative Districts of the Pwani Region. Participants were recruited using a snowball sampling technique. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire administered in Kiswahili. Both SPSS and STATA computer software were used for data analysis and visualisation. Descriptive statistics were used to summarise farmers’ socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge on pesticide use, pests and diseases, safety practices, and attitudes toward pesticide-related health and environmental impacts. The respondents comprised of 89.3% male farmers who farmed cucurbits. The mean age of respondents was 40 years, indicating that the majority fall within the economically active, productive working-age population, as defined by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The education level was generally low, with two-thirds (68.6%) having completed only primary education. Low education was found to be a major factor that affected farmers’ ability to read pesticide labels, understand safety instructions, and apply pesticides correctly, which can contribute to unsafe use and exposure. Only 53.9% of farmers followed label instructions, yet 78.1% read them. Most disposed of empty pesticide containers unsafely by throwing them away (94.7%), while 4.7% used them for fetching drinking water. Pesticide use was high, with 52.7% of farmers spraying weekly and 31.9% twice per week throughout the growth period. It was established that 39.6% harvested between 0-7 days and 57.9% within 8-15 days after spraying. Use of personal protective equipment (PPE) was inadequate, indicating a high risk of occupational exposure. The attitude towards pesticide use among farmers was reasonably positive (56.21%). Pesticide use among cucurbit farmers was both extensive and frequent. Safety measures, label compliance, container disposal, pre-harvest intervals, and PPE use still need improvement. Safer and more sustainable pesticide management requires better extension support, regulatory oversight, and farmer training.
Kilemile et al. (Thu,) studied this question.