Attitude and behaviours of pesticide dealers on pest management in Turkey: A study of Nevşehir province

Abstract

The aim of the study was to determine the structure, knowledge level, functions in pest management and opinions of pesticide dealers in Nevsehir province. Complete counting method has been employed in 2018 to acquire survey data from 50 pesticide dealers located in the Central, Derinkuyu, Gülsehir, Ürgüp, Kozaklı, Avanos, Acıgol and Hacıbektas districts of Nevsehir and the results have been assessed on a percentage ratio. It has been observed that majority of the pesticide dealers are male (84%), university graduate (78%), and mostly experienced and a graduate of agricultural faculty (76%). Pesticide dealers have indicated that among pesticide groups, it is insecticides that are selling most (66%), they are getting pesticides from wholesalers (62%), paying in cash (66%), they are in constant contact with agricultural organizations (66%) and they are having problems with regards to the diagnosis of physiological and pathologic diseases (58%). Farmers have stated that they are consulting the pesticide dealers on how, when and how much pesticide to use (86%), getting recommendations on pesticide selection (64%), that price is a major factor in buying pesticide (48%), they are applying the suggested pesticide dosage in a medium level (58%) and that pesticides are partially effective (50%). Pesticide dealers have stated that look for licenced (44%) and economical pesticides (36%), that they are not in favour of pesticides being sold with prescription (46%), that integrated pest management and early warning system is implemented in low levels only (34%), that they are introducing the products to farmers (44%), that pesticide companies are introducing new products (68%) and that majority of the farmers are not using bio-pesticides.