Effectiveness of Pesticide Safety Training on Farmers’ Knowledge and Practices in Vegetable Production: Evidence from Small-Scale Farmers in Kasena Nankana Municipality, Upper East Region of Ghana

The current study examined the use of pesticides and their safety practices among smallholder vegetable farmers in the Kassena-Nankana Municipality of the Upper East Region, Ghana. A sample size of 95 vegetable farmers who engaged in dry-season vegetable farming was considered. Data collection was done using an interview guide and a structured questionnaire, and data analysis was done using descriptive statistics, including frequencies, means, and standard deviations. The most cultivated vegetable was pepper (49%), followed by garden eggs (26%) and tomatoes (25%). Generally, 64.2% of farmers claimed that they had taken pesticide safety training in the last two years, whereas 35.8% did not take any pesticide safety training. Of the total farmers who took the training, the majority (83.6%) found the training useful, while 16.4% felt otherwise. Mostly, 54.1% of the training was conducted in farmers' fields, and hence the importance of a practical approach cannot be overstated. Insecticides were the most commonly used pesticides (74.7%), followed by fungicides (15.8%) and herbicides/rodenticides (9.5%). While 58.9% of farmers knew about the health effects of pesticides, 41.1% were ignorant of them. Similarly, 65.3% were unaware of government-banned pesticides, raising concerns about the potential use of prohibited products. Economic considerations strongly influenced pesticide selection, with 47.4% citing price and 31.6% citing potency. More than half (51.6%) reported not using personal protective equipment (PPE) during pesticide application. The study recommends strengthening continuous, participatory pesticide safety education with particular emphasis on pesticide regulatory knowledge and awareness of government-banned and prohibited pesticides. Given that 65.3% of respondents were unaware of government-banned pesticides, targeted awareness campaigns should clearly communicate which pesticides are banned, the reasons for their prohibition, and the potential health and environmental consequences of their use. Such information should be made accessible through agricultural extension services, community outreach, local-language communication, pictorial materials, demonstrations, and appropriate media channels. In addition, improved access to affordable personal protective equipment (PPE) and stronger collaboration among farmers, agro-input dealers, extension personnel, and regulatory institutions are recommended to promote compliance with pesticide regulations and reduce health and environmental risks associated with unsafe pesticide use.