Pesticide use in vegetable production on the Idjwi Island in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo: farmers' knowledge and practices

We conducted a survey on the Idjwi Island (eastern Democratic Republic of Congo) to assess pesticide use practices and risks perceived by vegetable farmers. Results show that most of the vegetable farmers are women (68%), using a variety of fungicides, often (43%) combined with insecticides, such as cypermethrin. The choice of used pesticides is mainly determined by their perceived effectiveness by farmers and their availability in local markets, where retailers are considered experts to provide information on pesticide use. The failure of the Congolese authorities to regulate the pesticide market and to limit the distribution of unapproved pesticides (e.g., profenofos), illiteracy (39% of farmers), and the absence of training on the use of pesticides do not promote good phytosanitary practices. In addition, the non-wearing of personal protective equipment (62% of cases) and the non-respect of the restricted-entry intervals, as well as the neglect of hygiene practices after pesticide application (50% of cases), expose vegetable farmers to the risks of pesticides with a potential direct impact on their health. Moreover, poor disposal of pesticide leftovers and emptied packages of pesticides (60%) could pollute the environment. Thus, we propose a series of actions for good pesticide management, in order to improve farmers' pest management practices and reduce the risks related to pesticide use.