PESTICIDE CONSUMPTION AND INVESTIGATION OF USAGEPATTERNS, HANDLING PRACTICES, FARMER’S EDUCATION,PERCEPTION ON PESTICIDE USE, AND BIOLOGICAL RESPONSEOF EARTHWORMS TO DICHLORVOSMohd Ashraf Dar, Chetram Meena and Garima KaushikAbstract Acute toxicity and morphological modifications of dichlorvos to Eisenia foetida were assessed by directcontact test via a filter paper. The 24 and 48 h LC50 were 70 and 50 ppm, respectively. MorphologicalObservations demonstrated body ruptures and bloody injuries. The pattern of pesticide usage, management,their health effects on farmers, and farmers perception towards pesticides was also studied. Data werecollected viaa structured questionnaire, formal and informal interviews, and group discussions. The resultspoint out that pesticides are readily available and extensively applied in crop cultivation. The primarypurpose of presenting pesticides in the crop fields was to forestall and control pests and diseases.Organophosphates were the most generally utilized pesticides by farmers. Farmerâs reported manualapplication as the method of choice for pesticide application, and most of the farmers confirmed that noessential safety measures and precautions were embraced when pesticides were applied. Education waswitnessed to influence the farmerâs approach towards taking appropriate protective measures; however,there was no association between farmerâsage and pesticide health effects. The level of education and analphabetic contributed significantly to poor awareness of pesticide use. The configuration of pesticide usesamong farmers, therefore, needs improvement. |