Studies on cropping systems and pesticide regimes in Tolon, in the Northern Region of Ghana

Although pesticide use is relatively low in Africa, most African farmers who do use pesticides do not use them safely, in part due to the cropping systems that are employed. Specifically, the cropping systems dictate pesticide application regimes that can potentially expose farmers and consumers to chemical risks under indiscriminate applications. This study aimed to identify the dominant agricultural production type, the pattern of pesticide use, and the handling of empty pesticide containers, and to determine the relationship between pesticide use and cropping systems. We specifically documented pesticide application practices and cropping systems based on the administration of a stratified questionnaire to 120 farmers in a cross-sectional survey. The participants were selected through multistage random sampling and the results were analysed using SPSS Statistics. Most of the respondents (89%) practiced continuous cultivation of maize and persistently used pesticides (>50%) with little or no adherence to safety protocols. There was a strong positive correlation between continuous cropping and pesticide use (r = 0.71, p = 0.02). In addition, most of the respondents (≈ 65%) re-used empty pesticide containers to store seeds or for other domestic purposes; the remaining respondents discarded them on their fields or nearby dumping sites or gave them to others. Overall, Tolon is dominated by continuous cropping by farmers coupled with the indiscriminate use of pesticides, which threaten environmental health and are a cause for environmental concern. The current agrochemical uses in Ghana present a high environmental and health risk, especially in areas of high agricultural production such as Tolon.