Participatory approaches for raising awareness among subsistence farmers in Tanzania about the spread of insecticide resistance in malaria vectors and the possible link to improper agricultural pesticide use
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Date
2022
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
BMC
Abstract
Background: Insecticide resistance is a key barrier to long-term malaria control, and it may be exacerbated by poor
agricultural pesticide use. Current practices, however, do not link public health and agricultural pesticide use. This
study investigated the perspectives of farmers and other stakeholders regarding the integration of agricultural and
public health measures to address resistance. Additionally, the feasibility of participatory workshops to increase the
farmers’ understanding and participation in pesticide stewardship was assessed.
Methods: Four themes were investigated: pesticide awareness, practices, and opinions of; insecticide resistance in
malaria vectors; the effectiveness of current malaria prevention tools; and the links between agricultural and public
health pesticide usage. Participatory workshops and field training were held with entomologists, farmers, and agri-
cultural specialists, focusing on agro-ecosystem practices related to pest control; and local farmers were involved in
live-testing for insecticides resistance of local Anopheles mosquitoes.
Results: Most farmers (94%) considered pesticides effective, and nearly half of them (n = 198, 46.4%) could identify
and name crop pests and diseases, mostly using local names. Three quarters were unaware of mosquito larvae in
their fields, and only 7% considered their fields as potential sources of mosquitoes. Two thirds were uninformed of
any effects that agricultural pesticides may have on mosquitoes, and three quarters had never heard of resistance in
malaria mosquitoes. Experts from various sectors acknowledged that agricultural pesticides might impact malaria
control through increasing resistance. They did, however, emphasize the importance of crop protection and advo-
cated for the use of pesticides sparingly and non-chemical approaches. Farmers learnt how to discriminate between
malaria vectors and non-vectors, identify agricultural pests and diseases, choose and use pesticides effectively, and
conduct resistance tests during the participatory workshops.
Conclusion: This study emphasizes the significance of enhancing subsistence farmers’ awareness of mosquito ecol-
ogy as well as merging public health and agricultural pest management measures. Participatory techniques have the
potential to raise stakeholder awareness and engagement, resulting in more effective resistance management.
Keywords: Agricultural pesticides, Agricultural practices, Anopheles mosquitoes, Crop pests, Insecticide resistance,
Malaria, Participatory learning, Tanzania
Description
Journal article
Keywords
Agricultural pesticides, Agricultural practices, Anopheles mosquitoes, Crop pests, Insecticide resistance, Malaria, Participatory learning, Tanzania