Pesticide Use Practices, Management System, Risk Perception And The Potential Environmental Impacts In Flowers Farm Industries; The Case Of Wolmera District, Ethiopia

Abstract

This study examine pesticide use practices, management system, risk perception and the potential environmental impacts in flowers farm industries; the case of wolmera district and examines the knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to pesticide use and safety among a predominantly male sample, with a notable majority of respondents aged over 20. The findings reveal significant gaps in basic pesticide knowledge, with only 21.42% of respondents able to recognize pesticides by name and only 25% regularly reading and understanding pesticide labels. Despite this, respondents largely believe in the importance of personal protective equipment (PPE) in preventing pesticide exposure, with high usage rates for certain forms of PPE, such as respiratory protection and footwear, but lower adherence to headgear and eyewear. These results indicate a need for enhanced educational programs focused on improving awareness about pesticide products, label interpretation, and the importance of comprehensive PPE use. Targeted interventions should also address younger individuals, who are underrepresented in the sample, to foster better safety practices from the outset of their pesticide-handling careers. Overall, the study highlights the importance of bridging knowledge gaps and promoting consistent safety behaviors to reduce the health risks associated with pesticide exposure in Ethiopia, wolmera district