Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
bring regarding the nature of knowledge and existing power dynamics? What
indications of change in understanding of ecosystems occurred? The following
sections provide a summary.
The nature of knowledge
At the beginning of the research process, Pikine farmers cited their faith in the
chemical companies and their distributors to provide effective chemicals and
information on their use. A very small percentage of farmers used alternative
methods for pest control. Moreover, those with farming traditions either had
lost knowledge on traditional methods of pest control or such methods were
not applicable in the high-intensity urban context. According to one farmer,
'observation' is the key method used among experienced farmers. He stated:
'the farmers who observe their plants know best how to manage them'.
However, farmers claimed that they did not know how to use these
products appropriately as inadequate information and training had been
provided by pesticide companies. Through the process of inquiry, farmers
explicitly linked pesticide use and health effects and realized the importance of
learning about their safe use. During planning sessions, farmers who acted as
spokespersons for the group asked for a train-the-trainer workshop whereby
trained professionals would provide initial training on pesticide use for literate
farmers. Farmers wanted those who were trained in the scientific method to
provide information, which would then be disseminated to other farmers.
When asked whether they believed that there were health effects linked to
wastewater, at least 55 per cent of the farmers suggested that there might be
some possible health effect linked to its use, such as parasitic infections,
dermatitis or malaria. However, 71 per cent said that they personally had had
no illness linked to its use. This may be the reason that no farmers asked for
education on the safe use of wastewater in either focus groups or
questionnaires. Water quality testing carried out by the University of Dakar,
however, did confirm the presence of pathogens in the water, and clinical data
identified at least 41.8 per cent of the farmers using ce´ane water were infected
with the same parasites found in the water. Follow-up evaluation showed that
although farmers had a greater awareness of health effects linked to
wastewater and washed more regularly, their reported illnesses linked to it did
not increase. Observation showed very little change between 2005 and 2006 in
farmers' watering practices, although questionnaire responses did suggest
some change. Several factors influence decisions to protect against
environmental health risks, which were discussed with farmers through an
exercise examining barriers and solutions. Barriers to behaviour change cited
by farmers included: lack of adequate equipment, funds and information,
illiteracy, negligence, no experience of any health effects related to exposure,
ignorance, fear of loss of productivity and lack of access to and absence of
skill in the use of alternatives. This exercise provided the basis for the
development of action plans to address these barriers.
Other possible explanations for risk perceptions probably exist.
According to Guisse (M. Guisse, 2005, in-depth interview), in Senegal 94 per
