Identifying Farmers’ Practices on Disposal of Empty Agrochemical Containers: A Case Study on Container Management Program of CropLife Sri Lanka-2017 Identifying Farmers’ Practices on Disposal of Empty Agrochemical Containers: A Case Study on Container Management Program of CropLife Sri Lanka-2017

Abstract

Mismanagement of agrochemical waste constitutes a major environmental problem, resulting in pollution of soil, air, and water resources and compromising the agricultural products safety, the protection of the environment, and public health. A significant amount of agrochemical companies is operating currently in Sri Lankan market to supply agrochemicals to farmers producing a large number of empty containers to be disposed in a crop season. This study refers the project implemented by CropLife Sri Lanka to manage empty pesticide containers. The objectives were to find the current disposal practices of farmers, to assess the progress of the container collecting program and to examine and make appropriate recommendations. The study was carried out in Nuwara Eliya district of Sri Lanka among 100 farmers, selected based on convenience sampling technique. To accomplish the objectives of the study, field surveys, direct observations, and formal and informal discussions with the stakeholders and participatory appraisal techniques were employed. About 40% of the farmers interviewed were well aware about the triple rinsing mechanism. In addition, farmers cannot access easily to the barrels to put their empty bottles after spraying. The overall container management program was rated as “good†in this stage. It was identified the need of integrating the project with the existing government programs, existing Community-based organization (CBOs), and other possible stakeholders. Both short- and long-term adjustments were proposed.