Table 3 Pesticides acquisition, knowledge and use
From: Health risk factors associated with pesticide use by watermelon farmers in Central region, Ghana
Variables | Frequency | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
Access to pesticides | ||
 Agrochemical shops in town | 122 | 40.7 |
 Local agrochemical shops in the village | 156 | 52.0 |
 Extension officers | 6 | 2.0 |
 Cooperative societies | 2 | 0.7 |
 Both agrochemical and local shops | 14 | 4.7 |
Why use pesticides | ||
 Protect crops against insects | 216 | 72 |
 Make crops grow better | 40 | 13.3 |
 Advised to use pesticides | 2 | 0.6 |
 Make crops grow better | 38 | 12.6 |
 Control weeds | 4 | 1.3 |
Knowledge to identify common pest disease | ||
 Yes | 240 | 80.0 |
 No | 60 | 20.0 |
Knowledge to identify common crop disease | ||
 Yes | 144 | 48.0 |
 No | 156 | 52.0 |
Time to apply pesticides | ||
 Presence of pest | 208 | 69.3 |
 Degree of pest infestation | 16 | 5.3 |
 Date of planting | 66 | 22.0 |
 On calendar spray schedules | 10 | 3.3 |
Knowledge of pesticides application methods and rate | ||
 Agrochemical shops | 86 | 28.7 |
 Extension officers | 48 | 16.0 |
 Pesticides labels on packages | 40 | 13.3 |
 Fellow farmers | 104 | 34.7 |
 Both agrochemical shops and extension officers | 2 | 0.7 |
 Both agrochemical shops and fellow farmers | 4 | 1.3 |
 Own experience | 16 | 5.3 |
Dilute pesticide before application | ||
 Mix more than one types of pesticides with water in container | 264 | 88.0 |
 Mix one type of pesticides with water in a container | 32 | 10.7 |
 Depending on the instructions on the label | 4 | 1.3 |