Manejo de plaguicidas en la agricultura familiar: perspectivas desde Perú

Globally, pesticide use in agriculture poses serious risks to human health and the environment. Limited research in Peru motivated this study. Surveys and interviews were conducted with farmers from eight regions of Peru. Quantitative analysis was based upon surveys (n = 310). For qualitative analysis, 31 interviews were randomly selected. This study reveals complex relationships between knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding pesticide use and management among small-scale farmers in Peru. Only 5% of the farmers sampled responded that they return used pesticide containers to commercial stores, while the vast majority (95%) discard, sell, or reuse them. Furthermore, 55% of the surveyed farmers reported using personal protective equipment, indicating that further training and improved information delivery methods are required. The vast majority (98%) of respondents indicated their willingness to receive training and further information on the proper use of pesticides, and 64% of participants cited a lack of training as the reason for their incorrect pesticide use. Land renters demonstrated poorer use of personal protective equipment compared to landowners (ANOVA, p < 0.05). However, the psychological factors underlying this phenomenon remain unclear and require further study. This research provides valuable information on how to approach future training regarding pesticide use in family farming in Peru.