AWARENESS OF HEALTH IMPLICATIONS OF AGROCHEMICAL USE: EFFECTS ON MAIZE PRODUCTION IN EJURA-SEKYEDUMASE MUNICIPALITY, GHANA

Abstract

This study assessed factors that affect awareness of health implications of agrochemical use and its effects on maize productionin Ejura-Sekyedumase Municipality of Ashanti Region, Ghana. One hundred and fifty-four (154) maize farmers were randomlysampled from the municipality. The study used awareness indicators to estimate an index representing farmers’ awareness levelsof health implications of agrochemical use. An ordered logit compliment with multivariate linear regression model was used toidentify the drivers of farmers’ awareness level of health implications of agrochemical use. Also, a multivariate linear regressionmodel was used to analyze the effects of health implications of agrochemical use on maize output. On average, the respondents havethe moderate awareness level of health implications of agrochemical use (0.578). The awareness level was significantly explainedby education, the number of children in school, ownership of TV/radio, experience in agrochemicals use, and farm size. Themultivariate linear regression results showed that awareness levels of health implications of agrochemical use increase maize output.It is therefore recommended that interventions aimed at increasing farmers’ awareness levels of health implications of agrochemicalsuse should focus on educating farmers through interactive radio discussion and training sessions on the field and incorporate safetyuse of agrochemical in our educational curriculum