RICE FARMERS’ AWARENESS OF WATER POLLUTION THROUGH PESTICIDE IN

ANURADHAPURA DISTRICT

Y.K.R.T Jayasinghe University of Peradeniya

Milk

Water

Alcohol

What is most popular drink in Sri Lanka

Pesticides

Outline

• Introduction• Problem Statement and Justification• Objectives• Conceptual Framework• Methodology• Results and Discussion• Conclusions • Recommendations

Introduction

Sri Lanka – Rice is staple foodLand extent- 65610 Km2

Paddy cultivation – 0.89 million hectares Total production – 3,651,000 MtTwo monsoons- North-West South-EastTwo cultivation seasons- Maha Yala

Importation of Chemicals

0

2,000

4,000

6,000

8,000

10,000

12,000

14,000

16,000

1997 1998 1999  2000 2001 2002*

TimeV

alu

e (R

s.M

illio

n)

Department of Census and Statistics – Sri Lanka

Introduction cont.

Pesticide

Insecticide Weedicide Fungicide…..etc• A non-point source of pollution Leach to ground water Run-off to surface water• Pesticides are most frequent water pollutant in the world (Timothy and Macro, 2001)• Addition of foreign substances Effect on water quality Harmful to living organisms and aquatic life

Pesticide water pollution

Problem Statement and Justification

Up-Country vegetable• High rainfall• High depth of water table • High frequency of rainfall (> 2500 mm/year)• Low temperature• High assimilation capacity

Dry Zone rice • Low rainfall• Low depth of water table• Low frequency of rainfall (<1750 mm/year)• High Temperature• Low assimilation capacity

Determine level of awareness and the factors affecting to level of awareness of rice farmer regarding pesticide water pollution in Anuradhapura district

Objectives

• General Objective

To determine the level of awareness and factors affecting the level of awareness of rice farmers about pesticide water pollution in Anuradhapura district

• Specific Objectives

To determine the level of awareness of farmers about water pollution through pesticides

To find-out the internal factors affecting the level of awareness of farmers

To find-out the external factors affecting the level of awareness of farmers

Methodology

• Study Area- Anuradhapura District

22 DS Divisions 7 DS Divisions

Primary Data Collection

Key informant discussion

7 DS Divisions 4 DS DivisionsSimple Random Sampling

1.Rajanganaya2.Ippologama3.Thirappane4.Palugaswewa

Villages were selected purposivelySample Size – 60 (Simple Random Sampling )

Methodology cont..

Data Collection and Data AnalysisPrimary Data Interview schedule Key informants discussion ObservationsSecondary Data DoA reports, IWMI reports, SACR reports Books, Internet

Data Analysis Descriptive Statistic Correlation, T-test (SPSS)

Conceptual Framework

Internal factors• Level of education

• Income

• Attitude

• Other

External Environmental Factors• Extension service (DOA)

• Media (radio, TV, newspaper),

• Farmer

• Private company extension service,

• Relevant government institutes ,

Level of awareness

• Pollutants

• Ways of pollution

• Impact of pollution

Methodology cont..

•NGO

•Dealer

•Other

Results and Discussion

No Schooling Grade 5 Grade 6- 10 GCE (A/L) Higher (Diploma/

Degree)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Level of education

Res

pon

den

ts %

Levels of education

Mean= 9.05

Results and Discussion cont.

Annual income of the farmer

<300,000 300,000 - 600,000

>600,0000

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

Income (Rs)

Resp

onde

nts

%

Farm income

No Income <250,000 >250,0000

10

20

30

40

50

60

Income (Rs)

Resp

onde

nts %

Off-farm income

Mean=4,38,700Mean=1,76,865

Results and Discussion cont.

Awareness of the farmer

<40 40 - 50 >500

10

20

30

40

50

60

Awareness Score

Resp

onde

nts

%

Low Medium High

Mean Score=50.66

Results and Discussion cont.

36%

27%

12%

5%

5%

14%1%

Media DOA

OGI NGO

Seller Farmer

PEO

Information Source on Awareness

Attitude of farmer

< 30 30 - 40 > 400

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Attitude Score

Resp

onde

nts

%

Low Medium High

Mean=37.5

Results and Discussion cont.

Frequency of Pesticide Application

0 1 2 >2 0 1 2 >2Maha Yala

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Frequency of applicationRe

spon

dent

s %

Insecticide Weedicide

Mean=1.25 Mean=1.35

(t=1.137, p>0.05)

Mean=1.58 Mean=1.64

(t=1.351, p>0.05)

Results and Discussion cont.

0 1 - 3 >3 0 1 - 3 > 3Maha Yala

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Frequency of application

Resp

onde

nts %

Pesticide amount per one acre

0 <300 300 - 500

>500 0 <300 300 - 500

>500

Maha Yala

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Amount (ml)

Resp

onde

nts

%

0 < 300 300 - 500

>500 0 <300 300 -500

>500

Maha Yala

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

Amount (ml)

Resp

onde

nts %

Insecticide Weedicide

Results and Discussion cont.

Mean=181.8 Mean=243.7

(t=2.456, P<0.05)

Mean=455 Mean=609.6

(t=3.606, p<0.05)

Conclusions

The level of awareness of farmers about pesticide water pollution is good

(mean score of the awareness was 50.66 out of 60)

The mass media (radio, newspaper and television) are the highest

information dissemination source about water pollution

ARPAs and leaflet of DOA help to create awareness

Field officers of other government institutes also have some impact on

creating awareness about water pollution.

Non-government organizations, chemical sellers, and private company extension

service have very low impact on creating awareness.

Neighbor farmers have good impact on creating awareness

Majority of farmers have the attitude that they are concerned about water pollution

Conclusions and Recommendations cont.

Recommendations

Training program for ARPAs about modern agricultural practices.

Training related to pesticide residue effects on human beings

Introduce IPM and IWM for rice farmers

DOA should start advisory service especially for pesticides

DOA extension system should be oriented towards sustainable farming system

productivity development approach

Activate functions of the Authorized Officer

Maintain brand equity(enforce to advertizing with chemical name)

Develop a system for the return of the empty pesticide containers

Do what you can, with what you have, where you are

(Theodore Roosevelt)

Pesticide Act