Awareness of Chilli (capsicum Annuam L.) Farmers on Safe Use of Pesticides: a Case of Crop Life India (cli) Project Farmers from Guntur District of Andhra Pradesh

A survey was conducted in six villages in three mandals viz., Tadikonda, Medikonduru and Pedanandipadu in Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh. All the 150 chilli farmers participating in Crop Life India (CLI) sponsored safe use of pesticides and Integrated Pest Management project were taken as sample for the study. It was expressed all the respondent farmers purchasing pesticides from authorised dealers. It was observed from the responses that all the respondents used face/nose mask and about 80 per cent used head dress. No one used hand gloves and shoes. It is interesting to note that no one used recommended personal protection equipment. Recommended personal protection equipments (PPEs) were not used by the farmers but expressed strong desire to use them if available at affordable cost and fit to local environment. Regarding the disposal empty pesticide containers 50 per cent of them bury these in the field and rest are either buried or crushed and thrown in the field. Re-use of empty pesticide bottles was not in practice. About 80 per cent of the respondents used Taiwan sprayers. About 82 per cent of the respondents took bath and 74 per cent changed clothes after spraying pesticide and 82.67 per cent were aware of the colour triangle indication on the pesticide bottles. About 53.33 per cent expressed that they have knowledge on upkeep of the sprayers.