It is clear from the results of this study that the list of
pesticides approved for use in the Philippines is in need of
review, to ensure proper distinction among banned,
restricted and general use pesticides. In addition, a sound
mechanism is needed to control the use and sale of
restricted and banned pesticides. Even pesticides classified
as slightly hazardous or relatively non-hazardous can still
cause damage to farmers’ health and the environment.
Adequate protective clothing that covers sensitive and
frequently exposed parts of the body, particularly the legs
and feet, and good-quality spraying equipment are therefore
imperative. Economic costs incurred by farm families
in the long run, due to ill health (in terms medical
treatment and reduced labour in case of illness or even
death), will without doubt raise above the costs associated
with the purchase of protective clothing and adequate
equipment. To make such goods available and affordable
to farmers, a distribution and subsidizing scheme is
required for low-cost application products.
Farmers’ awareness of the specific risks of pesticides and
the necessity of using protective clothing and correct
dosages can further be raised by including visual instructions
on pesticide formulation packaging labels, in addition
to adequate warning descriptions written in the local
language. Advertising campaigns at stores selling agricultural
goods and products will likewise help raise awareness.
Current training on integrated pest management,
addressing issues of pesticide usage and alternatives, appear
to be inadequate, only reaching farmers in accessible and socalled
‘key production’ areas. Farmers in more remote areas
are generally excluded, while pesticide management is
directed mainly towards one or two main cash crops (rice,
corn), with meagre attention paid to successful pesticide free
and economically feasible forms of sustainable agriculture. Distance and accessibility should not be a barrier to bringing
knowledge to farmers. It is therefore recommended that
policies on training in integrated pest management be
adjusted to farmers’ needs and preferences, i.e., with training
preferably conducted whenever and wherever farmers
express a need. Likewise, more attention should be paid,
both in training and in future research, to crops other than
rice and corn and to alternative, cost-effective pest-control
methods more benign to environmental and human health,
such as production of weed-competitive and allelopathic rice
and corn varieties and integration of traditional local
methods of weed control. The latter will in fact be essential,
moreover, because of factors hampering herbicide adoption
by smallholders, such as insufficient funds, an unfavourable
cost–benefit ratio for covering investment risks and inadequate
technical support and supplies.
These shortcomings are due partly to the lack of
information and relevant data on the toxicological and
ecological properties of various chemical compounds,
their effects on the environment and human health, and
the economically feasible alternatives to pesticide usage
that can release farmers from Tisdell’s lock-in effect,
as discussed above. Hence, more research within these
fields will widen our knowledge and enable us to
refine and adjust policies on pesticide use, pesticide-free
alternatives, and prices and subsidies for pesticide-free
products.
The possibility of monitoring farmers’ pesticide usage
and application methods after training participation could
be considered, in addition to a review of the integratedpest-
management programme and a monitoring system
focused on farmers’ changing problems and needs. Finally,
there is no need to explain that proper implementation of
regulations, training, campaigns and monitoring systems
requires adequate equipment, manpower and budgets
to be made available by government institutions at all
administrative levels, and by local government units in
particular.
It is clear from the results of this study that the list ofpesticides approved for use in the Philippines is in need ofreview, to ensure proper distinction among banned,restricted and general use pesticides. In addition, a soundmechanism is needed to control the use and sale ofrestricted and banned pesticides. Even pesticides classifiedas slightly hazardous or relatively non-hazardous can stillcause damage to farmers’ health and the environment.Adequate protective clothing that covers sensitive andfrequently exposed parts of the body, particularly the legsand feet, and good-quality spraying equipment are thereforeimperative. Economic costs incurred by farm familiesin the long run, due to ill health (in terms medicaltreatment and reduced labour in case of illness or evendeath), will without doubt raise above the costs associatedwith the purchase of protective clothing and adequateequipment. To make such goods available and affordableto farmers, a distribution and subsidizing scheme isrequired for low-cost application products.Farmers’ awareness of the specific risks of pesticides andthe necessity of using protective clothing and correctdosages can further be raised by including visual instructionson pesticide formulation packaging labels, in additionto adequate warning descriptions written in the locallanguage. Advertising campaigns at stores selling agriculturalgoods and products will likewise help raise awareness.Current training on integrated pest management,addressing issues of pesticide usage and alternatives, appearto be inadequate, only reaching farmers in accessible and socalled‘key production’ areas. Farmers in more remote areasare generally excluded, while pesticide management isdirected mainly towards one or two main cash crops (rice,corn), with meagre attention paid to successful pesticide freeand economically feasible forms of sustainable agriculture. Distance and accessibility should not be a barrier to bringingknowledge to farmers. It is therefore recommended thatpolicies on training in integrated pest management beadjusted to farmers’ needs and preferences, i.e., with trainingpreferably conducted whenever and wherever farmersexpress a need. Likewise, more attention should be paid,both in training and in future research, to crops other thanrice and corn and to alternative, cost-effective pest-controlmethods more benign to environmental and human health,such as production of weed-competitive and allelopathic riceand corn varieties and integration of traditional localmethods of weed control. The latter will in fact be essential,moreover, because of factors hampering herbicide adoptionby smallholders, such as insufficient funds, an unfavourablecost–benefit ratio for covering investment risks and inadequatetechnical support and supplies.These shortcomings are due partly to the lack ofinformation and relevant data on the toxicological andecological properties of various chemical compounds,their effects on the environment and human health, andthe economically feasible alternatives to pesticide usagethat can release farmers from Tisdell’s lock-in effect,as discussed above. Hence, more research within thesefields will widen our knowledge and enable us torefine and adjust policies on pesticide use, pesticide-freealternatives, and prices and subsidies for pesticide-freeproducts.The possibility of monitoring farmers’ pesticide usageand application methods after training participation couldbe considered, in addition to a review of the integratedpest-management programme and a monitoring systemfocused on farmers’ changing problems and needs. Finally,there is no need to explain that proper implementation ofregulations, training, campaigns and monitoring systemsrequires adequate equipment, manpower and budgetsto be made available by government institutions at alladministrative levels, and by local government units inparticular.
การแปล กรุณารอสักครู่..