Determination of the level of awareness of farmers aboft the fse of personal protective eqfipment in pesticide applications

The objective of this study is to determine the level of awareness of farmers about the personal protective equipment used in pesticide applications. The study was conducted in 56 villages in the administrative zone of the central districts of Adana, a southern province of Turkey, during which information was collected from the farmers with the individual interview method. In the individual interviews, demographic properties of the farmers, their behavioural patterns during pesticide applications, general level of knowledge about pesticide applications and level of awareness in the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) were questioned. The farmers included in the scope of the study were 54.14 years old in average and nearly half of them (45.2%) were found to be primary school graduates. The farmers' average history of agricultural activity was 30.19 years, and they had been applying agricultural pesticides for 25.81 years in average. It was determined that 84.7% of the farmers were engaged in arable farming, applying agricultural pesticides 3.15 times a year in average and 88.7% of them had not been informed about the use of PPE. As a result of the study, it was understood that the farmers were not well-informed about the negative effects of pesticides on human health in spite of their significant level of experience in both farming and the use of pesticides, which caused unconsciousness about the use of PPE. In order for the said consciousness to be created, it is important for the relevant institutions to get organized and start field training programs. © 2019 Parlar Scientific Publications. All rights reserved