Pesticides are poison but their use is essential for crop protection to control pests. Vegetables are very
important crop and are susceptible to a number of devastating pests. Vegetable growers have to depend
on chemical pesticides for the control of pests. Pesticides sprayed on vegetables do not remain on the
targeted area. Pesticide exposure may lead to certain serious and chronic diseases. High number of
human’s pesticides poisoning are occurring in Pakistan and high risks maximum residue limits (MRLs) of
pesticides had been detected in foods (vegetables) in Pakistan. Safe use of pesticide is generally
influenced by knowledge possessed by the vegetable growers. The study was conducted to assess the
knowledge level of vegetable growers regarding pesticide use in two potato growing districts of Punjab.
The data were collected from randomly selected 367 vegetable growers proportionately selected from
randomly selected two tehsils of the selected districts. This study concludes that the growers need training
for health safety measures on priority basis regarding the areas; knowledge of personal protective
equipment and clothing (mean = 1.95); knowledge of routes through which pesticides enters in human
body (mean = 2.65); knowledge of personal hygiene and sanitation (mean = 3.26) respectively.
Ajaz Akhtar, Munir Ahmad, Tanvir Ali, Muhammad Iqbal Zafar. (2007) Vegetable Growers’ Awareness About Health Safety Measures And Pesticide Use In Punjab, Pakistan, , Volume-44, Issue-3.
