Fruit-growers’ perceptions on the harmful effects of pesticides and their reflection on practices: The case of Kemalpasa, Turkey

In this study, 61 randomly selected fruit-growers in a specific area of Turkey were interviewed to reveal their perceptions regarding the harmful effects of pesticides and whether these are reflected in their pesticide practices. After their perceptions of pesticides as harmful to the environment and human health were determined, their pesticide practices were investigated. Whether these perceptions and certain characteristics of the farmers had an impact on their practices was assessed using a logistic regression, assuming that producers who regard pesticides as slightly harmful or harmful to the environment and human health would be more sensitive in their practices. The analysis showed that behaviour adopted by farmers with regard to pesticide practices was influenced more by characteristics such as age, fruit-growing experience and education. Thus the perception on the harmful effects of the pesticides is not fully reflected in practices and that attitudes and practices are inconsistent with each other. Various precautions need to be taken in order to bring about a consistency between the farmers’ existing environmental awareness and their behaviour.