Assessment of Pesticide Usage among Rural Women Arable Crop Farmers in Southwest, Nigeria

Abstract

Pesticides remain an important component of crop protection and productivity enhancement in smallholder farming systems. This study assessed pesticide usage among rural women arable crop farmers in Southwest Nigeria. Specifically, the study identified the types of pesticides used, determined the level of pesticide usage, and examined the reasons for pesticide use. A multistage sampling procedure was employed to select 504 rural women arable crop farmers from Ogun, Oyo, and Osun States. Data were collected through a structured interview schedule and analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson Product Moment Correlation, and Spearman Rank Correlation at a 5% level of significance. The results revealed that herbicides (82.1%) and insecticides (60.5%) were the predominant agro-chemicals used by the respondents. Majority (66.3%) of the farmers exhibited a high level of pesticide usage, indicating substantial dependence on chemical pest control in arable crop production. The major reasons for pesticide use were increased farm revenue, savings in labour, time and cost, and effective reduction of pest populations. Spearman’s correlation revealed significant positive relationships between pesticide usage level and most reported reasons for pesticide use, with the strongest association observed for pest population reduction (r = 0.408, p < 0.001). The study concludes that pesticide use among rural women farmers was primarily motivated by economic benefits and the need for effective pest management. Strengthening extension education and promoting integrated pest management practices are therefore essential for ensuring safe, efficient, and sustainable pesticide use.