Bridging the gap between knowledge and practice in pesticide use: Occupational health risks among smallholder farmers in Nepal

Mahesh Chhetri; Naba Raj Pandit; Nawaraj Oli; Sushil Kunwar; Bimal Prajapati; Aashika Regmi; Shikshya Bhattarai; Bishal Aryal; Dinesh Chhetri; Priya Acharya

doi:10.26832/24566632.2026.110308

Authors

Mahesh Chhetri
Head of Project Development, Muktinath Krishi Company Limited, Kathmandu, Nepal
Naba Raj Pandit
International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Kathmandu, Nepal
Nawaraj Oli
Chief Administrative Officer, Government of Nepal, Narainapur Rural Municipality, Banke, Nepal
Sushil Kunwar
International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Kathmandu, Nepal
Bimal Prajapati
Chief Operating Officer, Muktinath Chemical and Fertilizer Company, Nepal
Aashika Regmi
Himalayan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Kathmandu, Nepal
Shikshya Bhattarai
College of Natural Resource Management, Agriculture and Forestry University (AFU), Tikapur, Kailali, Nepal
Bishal Aryal
College of Natural Resource Management, Agriculture and Forestry University (AFU), Tikapur, Kailali, Nepal
Dinesh Chhetri
Agriculture and Forestry University, Rampur, Chitwan, Nepal
Priya Acharya
Himalayan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Kathmandu, Nepal

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.26832/24566632.2026.110308

Keywords:

Knowledge-practice gap, Occupational health, Personal protective equipment, Pesticide safety, Smallholder farmers

Abstract

Improper use of pesticides poses significant occupational health hazards among smallholder farmers in Nepal who often have limited access to safety information and protective measures. This study aimed to assess pesticide use patterns, farmers' knowledge of health risks, safety practices, and their association with socio-demographic characteristics in Banke district, Nepal. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 360 farmers selected via multistage sampling process. Data were collected using pretested questionnaires, complemented by 20 key informant interviews, and 10 focus group discussions. Most respondents were male (76.67%), 41.94% had primary level education and, 66.11% cultivated less than one hectare of land. Overall, 97.78% of the respondents reported using pesticides primarily in vegetable farming (86.11%) followed by paddy (66.94%) production. Although 72.78% were aware of the adverse health effects of pesticides, 57.78% of respondents had received no training on pesticide management. The most frequently reported health problems were headache (18.06%) and skin rash (16.94%). Farmers' knowledge of pesticide-related health risks was positively correlated (r = 0.434, p<0.01) with safety practices. In addition, respondents' safety practices were significantly varied by gender, age, and education level. The findings highlight a clear knowledge-practice gap and underscore the need for practical safety training, affordable personal protective equipment, and behavior-change interventions to promote safer pesticide use among small holder farmers.

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References

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