Practices of Greek Farmers in the Application of Insecticides and other Crop Protection Chemicals

The application of crop protection chemicals (CPCs) may involve hazardous techniques or processes which can lead to various occupational injuries and environmentally undesirable side effects. This paper reports on the actions and attitudes of 300 Greek farmers who used spraying equipment in an area of northern Greece. All the farmers were interviewed, and attempts were made to ascertain their knowledge of CPCs, and the practices they used with regard to them. Also described is the methodology used for identifying erroneous behaviour and malpractice among the farmers. The main objective was to identify the particular characteristics of those farmers who had appropriate knowledge about CPCs and were applying them properly and to compare these with the characteristics of the farmers who neither had knowledge about CPCs nor used proper application practices. The profiles of members of the two groups are outlined. Over 80% of the respondents reported taking the necessary safety precautions in applying CPCs, but, when questioned, up to 20% provided incorrect answers. Better regard to safety rules was seen among part-time farmers, those who had been spraying for more than 10 years, and those with larger farms. Spraying equipment was used correctly by farmers who had been spraying for more than 10 years and those cultivating less than 6 ha of land. These farmers were unlikely to be involved with European Union Agricultural Development Programmes, and there was no consistent relationship between farmers' education and age and protective and technical behaviour.