The Contribution of Socio-Economic Factors to Knowledge, Attitude and Skills Acquired Through Training in Pesticide Utilization in the Accra Metropolitan Assembly

Abstract

The use of recommended agricultural practices such as the safe adoption of pesticides is influenced by several factors as identified in the evaluative frame of reference. These factors have often led to the existing gap between farmers‘ knowledge and pesticide use. The purpose of the study was to examine the contribution of socio-economic factors to the application of skills acquired through training on the safe use of pesticides in vegetable production in the Accra Metropolitan Assembly. The study adopted a descriptive research design. Simple random sampling technique was used to sample 100 MoFA training beneficiary farmers from a population of 135. The study used interview schedule as instrument to gather data from the respondents. SPSS and descriptive statistics such as means, frequencies, and percentages were used to analyse the quantitative data, while content analysis was used to analyse the qualitative data. The study found that the even though the farmers acquired good knowledge in pesticide use, they are using a number of practices that are injurious to themselves, consumers and the environment after benefiting from a training programme from MoFA. Thus, few farmers were using protective gears and most farmers perceived applying more pesticides guarantees higher farm yields. Nevertheless, the training programme contributed to change some of the poor attitudes and practices associated with the use of pesticides. Educational level of farmers was the main socio-economic variable that explained differences in the attitudes of farmers. The study recommends that MoFA should organise more training programmes for the farmers to help continue change some of the negative attitudes towards the use of pesticides, and MoFA should provide extension services to the farmers to monitor their rate of adoption of the improved practices in the use of pesticides.