Abstract

Isaac Abunyuwah, Evelyn Delali Ahiale and James Kofi Blay

Application of agrochemicals by farmers has become one of the most effective measures to pest infestation and as weed control mechanism, aimed at productivity improvement and increased farm level profits. In Ghana, though scanty, empirical evidence points to overuse of agrochemicals in vegetable production. This paper sought to analyze the extent and factors that influence misuse of pesticides in tomato production in Akomadan. Random sample of 120 tomato farmers was used for the study. The study revealed a wide variation in the levels of pesticides usage among farmers. More than half (62%) of the farmers overused pesticides. Again 76% of the farmers did not follow dosage recommendation on labels. Using logistic regression model, the study revealed that factors such as the use of non-hybrid variety of tomato, age, education, farm size, farming experience, source of seed, farming system practiced and other economic activities of the farmer explained farmers’ pesticides over application patterns. We recommend that environmental protection agency and its allied institutions responsible for agrochemical regulation should intensify education on and monitoring of pesticides application among farmers to avoid possible table food poisoning, protect public health and environment and to avoid insect pests resistance to pesticides.