Study on the Assessment of Agro-Chemicals Usage and Health Implications in Owalla, Owerri North Local Government Area, Imo State

Abstract

The study assessed the usage of agro-chemicals and health implications in Owalla, Owerri North Local Government Area, Imo State. A total of 95 respondents were selected using multi-stage, purposive and random sampling techniques and were administered an open and ended questionnaire. The findings revealed that sources of agro-chemicals shows that the majority of the respondents (65.2%) got their agrochemicals in the open market. The distribution of respondents according to the most utilized agro-chemicals, majority (36.8%) maintained that they make use of fertilizer while (34.7%) went for pesticides than other forms of agro-chemicals. The inhabitants (42.1%) were mostly civil servants, farmers (31.5%) while students were (26.3%). The results also showed that majority (83.1%) of the respondents responded that agrochemicals were harmful while (16%) thought otherwise. Majority (51.5%) of the respondents maintained that agrochemicals did not affect their farm income. However, (48.4%) pointed out that agrochemicals had positive impact on their farm income. Based on the constraints to adoption of agrochemicals, most of the respondents (86.3%) pointed out that the major constraints to adoption of agrochemicals is inadequate funds, difficulty to use (7.3%) and difficult to learn (6.3%). (18.9%) of the respondents indicated that their income between N200,000 - N250,000 and above due to utilization of agrochemicals on their farm.

Keywords: Agro chemical, usage, health implications Owalla