Orchard farmers’ attitudes towards pesticides waste management in Meshkinshahr county, Iran

Background and Objective: Pesticides are the major components of production in modern agriculture, however, as their widely usage, the hazards associated with their wastes have become of increasing concern. The aim of this study is to investigate orchard farmers’ attitudes toward proper disposal of pesticide wastes. Materials and Methods: The statistical population of the study includes all orchard farmers in Meshkinshahr County (N=32,300). A total sample size of 300 farmers was selected and the data were collected. The research instrument was a questionnaire which was validated by a panel of university staff. A pilot study was conducted with 30 farmers outside the sample villages and Cronbach's alpha showed high reliability of the instrument. Results: Due to the pesticides use, significant amounts of wastes are produced annually. Farmers do not properly dispose pesticide wastes. They leave the wastes on the farm, dump it in canals or river flow, or burn it. Farmers were not well informed about triple rinsing of containers before disposal. Most farmers used masks, hats, and gloves, 53% used boots and 7.7% used goggles, though none of them used coverall during pesticides’ handling. Respondents took negative to moderate attitudes towards proper wastes disposal. Age, education, and participation in extension programs were the most important determinants of the attitudes. Conclusion: Considering the relatively negative attitude and improper waste disposal, it is necessary to establish centers for waste collection, to inform and encourage farmers to dispose of waste properly. Relevant organizations, such as health and the environment should plan for pesticide waste management.