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<p>We attempted to identify the factors behind the safety behavior of rice farmers during pesticide usage using the theory of planned behavior (TPB) in Nepal. A survey with a multistage random sampling method was applied to 120 commercial farmers of Mayadevi Rural Municipality. Pesticide retailers and rice wholesalers (<i>n</i> = 50) in the district were interviewed as a supportive information to the theory. Additionally, we assessed dietary risk of pesticide residues in rice samples from 3 districts: Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Lalitpur. Our results showed that all constructs of TPB significantly and positively correlated with each other except perceived behavioral control. Path analysis revealed that subjective norms were major key determinants of the safety intentions and in turn intentions significantly impacted farmers’ safety behavior. Thus, our model concluded that perceptions of key stakeholders such as pesticide retailers and extension officers positively impacted the safety intention of farmers. Fungicides were the most commonly detected pesticides. Compared to Lalitpur and Bhaktapur, rice showed greater number of pesticide residues with their highest concentrations in samples from Kathmandu district. Pesticide residues were found more frequently in basmati rice. About 83% of the rice samples were contaminated with pesticides (80% of the rice samples had 2 or more residues). Overall, the concentration of pesticides ranged from 5.09&#xa0;µg/kg to 312.54&#xa0;µg/kg, with a mean of 22.13&#xa0;µg/kg. Tricyclazole, thiamethoxam and tebuconazole were the predominant pesticides in rice. Use of banned and toxic pesticides such as aluminum phosphide and chlorpyrifos was a common practice among rice farmers and wholesalers. However, dietary risk of pesticide residues due to the consumption of rice was negligible, both hazard quotient and hazard index equal to less than 1. To ensure future food safety, national policy interventions should enforce and strengthen legal mechanisms to stop the illegal use of banned pesticides as well as regularly monitor pesticide residues in rice.</p>

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Pesticide use and safety behavior among rice farmers in Nepal: The assessment of theory of planned behavior and potential health risk

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年6月6日

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  • Govinda Bhandari,
  • Anushka Pandey,
  • Utkal Sapkota,
  • Sheelendra Pratap Singh,
  • Hirotatsu Murano

摘要

We attempted to identify the factors behind the safety behavior of rice farmers during pesticide usage using the theory of planned behavior (TPB) in Nepal. A survey with a multistage random sampling method was applied to 120 commercial farmers of Mayadevi Rural Municipality. Pesticide retailers and rice wholesalers (n = 50) in the district were interviewed as a supportive information to the theory. Additionally, we assessed dietary risk of pesticide residues in rice samples from 3 districts: Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Lalitpur. Our results showed that all constructs of TPB significantly and positively correlated with each other except perceived behavioral control. Path analysis revealed that subjective norms were major key determinants of the safety intentions and in turn intentions significantly impacted farmers’ safety behavior. Thus, our model concluded that perceptions of key stakeholders such as pesticide retailers and extension officers positively impacted the safety intention of farmers. Fungicides were the most commonly detected pesticides. Compared to Lalitpur and Bhaktapur, rice showed greater number of pesticide residues with their highest concentrations in samples from Kathmandu district. Pesticide residues were found more frequently in basmati rice. About 83% of the rice samples were contaminated with pesticides (80% of the rice samples had 2 or more residues). Overall, the concentration of pesticides ranged from 5.09 µg/kg to 312.54 µg/kg, with a mean of 22.13 µg/kg. Tricyclazole, thiamethoxam and tebuconazole were the predominant pesticides in rice. Use of banned and toxic pesticides such as aluminum phosphide and chlorpyrifos was a common practice among rice farmers and wholesalers. However, dietary risk of pesticide residues due to the consumption of rice was negligible, both hazard quotient and hazard index equal to less than 1. To ensure future food safety, national policy interventions should enforce and strengthen legal mechanisms to stop the illegal use of banned pesticides as well as regularly monitor pesticide residues in rice.