Farmers' knowledge of health risks and protective gear associated with pesticide use on cotton in Mozambique

Cotton production and chemical use have increased considerably in Mozambique. These changes mean that it is important to understand whether farmers know the hazards of using chemicals and also know the available preventive measures. Observed farmers' behavior leads us to believe that Mozambican farmers lack knowledge of the risks of pesticide use and do not take preventive measures. This paper investigates factors that determine farmers' knowledge of protective gear and health risks associated with pesticide use. Personal interviews were completed with a random sample of 90 households in the Nampula cotton-producing region of Mozambique during summer of 2002. Logistic models are specified that highlight determinants of health risk and use of protective gear knowledge among farmers. The level of health risk knowledge and the level of knowledge of protective gear are modeled as binary variables. Results of the knowledge of health risk provide evidence that availability of health risk information and producer network membership increases the farmers' health risk knowledge.