An Anthropology Study on the Problems Faced by Farmers in the Use of Chemical Pesticides in Agriculture by Opanayaka Divisional Secretariat

Early man built and settled his settlements near rivers, streams and creeks. The period of cultivation using eco-friendly organic pesticides can be termed as a period of consumerist economic pattern. Over time urbanization, industrialization, with the socialization of the concept of globalization, every aspect of the world began to change. At the same time, with the socialization of the Green Revolution, agricultural development began. With development came the introduction of high-yielding chemical pesticides instead of organic pesticides. Today, chemical pesticides have become an indispensable pesticide in agriculture. In such a background it is important to study the problems faced by farmers in the use of chemical pesticides in agriculture and it became the problem of this study. The main objectives were to study the problems faced by farmers in the use of chemical pesticides in agriculture and to submit proposals and specific objectives were used to achieve that objective. Opanayaka in the Ratnapura District as the research model to achieve these objectives60 farmers in two Grama Niladhari Divisions of Udaranwala and Handagirigoda Divisions of the Divisional Secretariat Division have participated as data contributors. Five female data contributors and 55 male data contributors participated in the study. Since these studies were designed in conjunction with a field study plan, the focus was also on quality data collection techniques in data collection. Accordingly, observations, participatory observations and interviews were used. Data obtained from various methods of this type were analyzed to achieve the intended objectives of the study. The research conducted using these methods have identified the common socio-economic problems faced by farmers in the use of chemical pesticides in agriculture.