Abstract;

Background: Pesticides are considered important in agriculture for controlling pest. The horticultural sector has a high and increase demand for pesticided in developing countries. Horticultural production in Tanzania is primarily that of fruit, vegetables, and cut flowers. The aim of this study was to determine knowledge, perception and practices of vegetable producers concerning the use of pesticide in vegetable cultivation areas surrounding Mwanza City. Farmers are dependent on pesticides for pest control because vegetable are attacked by a wide range of pests, which can cause damage and loss of vegetable in a very short period of time.

Methodology: A cross sectional study design focused on interviewing 258 vegetable producers on knowledge, attitude and practices of vegetable producers concerning the use of pesticide. Data were collected using structured questionnaire inform of face to face interviews with both open and closed ended questions. Convenient sampling was used to obtain samples for recruitment. Six clusters were selected purposefully because they are the only areas where vegetables are being cultivated and supplied to the City.

Result: the findings revealed that there was a significant association between sex (x2=12.75, p<0.0001) and education level (x2=18.27, p<0.0001) with perceived health risk associated with pesticide among respondent. The level of knowledge in vegetable cultivation according to the ward (x2=20, p<0.0001), sex (x2=6.84, p<0.0009) and level of education (x2=14.27, p<0.0001) were found to be significantly associated with the use of pesticide. Also male were significantly more knowledgeable (n=103, 61.4%) than female (n=29, 42.6%).

Conclusion: vegetable growers are at risk of getting health problems associated with pesticide since they are not using personal protective gears. The findings revealed that males are at high risk of being exposed because in most cases they are the ones who are dealing with mixing and application of pesticide.