Behaviors on Pesticide Application of Fresh Tomato Growers in Mekong Riverside of Northeast, Thailand สุดารัตน์ ยศยิ่ง สุกัลยา เชิญขวัญ พัชราภรณ์ ภูมิจันทึก และ ฝากจิต ปาลินทร

Abstract

This study aims to study the behavior of using pesticide of fresh tomato growers along Mekong river in the Northeastern region in 5 districts which are Mueang Nakhon Phanom, That Phanom, Ban Phaeng, Mueang Nongkhai, and Mueang Bueng Kan. The data were collected by using the structured-interviews with 150 tomato growers in the produce year 2562. Data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics which are Frequency, Percentage, Standard Deviation, Average, Max, and Min. The findings found that 56% of growers are female with 54.35 year-old of average age. Most of them graduated primary school. They own 10.53 rai on average of land which is used to plant tomatoes about 3.10 rai on average. They average income which come from tomato produce was about 62,806.67 baht per year. The farmers grow totally 13 species. The growers’ behaviors on chemical pesticides application shows that almost all issue that they respond are in practice every time. There is only an issue of “If there are chemicals left, dumped it into the soil pit.” that responding in practice sometimes. There are two issue that the growers respond never practice including “making sign to notify of the chemical spraying area” and “destroying chemical container by burying it”. Therefore, the relevant departments should have campaigns to cultivate the subconscious mind to make farmers aware of the dangers of pesticide utilization. That affects the health in the short and long term.