Farmer knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding agrochemical use in parts of Rivers Niger and Kaduna Catchments, North Central, Nigeria

Abstract

Agrochemical use is increasing rapidly among smallholder farmers in the River Niger and Kaduna catchments of north-central Nigeria, yet the knowledge, attitudes, and practices governing their use remain poorly characterised. This study investigated the knowledge base, attitudes, and current practices of 350 farmers utilising pesticides and fertilisers in the study area using a structured questionnaire designed around a Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) framework. Findings revealed that farmers held very limited knowledge of agrochemical hazards, with a mean knowledge score of 2.3 out of 10. Only 35 per cent of respondents were aware of pesticide restrictions in Nigeria, and fewer than 9 per cent could correctly classify pesticide compounds. Attitudes were predominantly positive towards agrochemical necessity, with 89.7 per cent agreeing that synthetic inputs are essential for crop success. Unsafe practices were widespread, including non-compliance with label instructions (91.4 per cent), inadequate use of personal protective equipment (27.1 per cent), equipment washing in rivers (82.3 per cent), and improper disposal of empty containers in farm fields (58 per cent). These practices pose direct risks to water quality, biodiversity, and farmer health. The study recommends targeted farmer training, vendor licensing, subsidised protective equipment, and strengthened extension services to bridge identified knowledge and compliance gaps.