Agricultural Practices and Disease Management in Selected Northern Kerala Region, India: Farmer Survey and Cross-Sectional Study

Recognizing the negative impacts of the pesticide endosulfan in Kasaragod district, the Kerala State government had declared it as the organic district in 2012.
Towards assessing the current pesticide usage and management amongst farmers in Pullur-Periye Panchayath of Kasargod, present survey was undertaken.
Study site selection was considering the health concerns that prevailed in the region over earlier application of endosulfan that had raised health concerns. The onsite survey involved 102 farmers engaged in vegetable farming and was undertaken during January–February 2024. Data was collected based on structured questionnaire and informal interviews that comprised 55% male and 45% female farmers with median age of 60.5 years.
Correlation analysis revealed significant positive correlation to land acreage and disease management methods. Study revealed 54% of farmers to solely practice traditional/organic crop protection methods while 42% relied on combining organic practices with synthetic agrochemicals. Multiple regression analysis amongst positively correlated socioeconomic criteria revealed disease management methods to have positive significant influence on farmer’s awareness on pesticide usage. Farmers were found to rely on Deltamethrin and DDT for pest control in vegetable cultivation.
Study sheds light into the regional issues that would help in strategizing plans for implementation of organic agriculture practices. Study is a novel attempt to understand the agricultural practices followed in subsistence farming of vegetables by the farmers in the region that has been declared as an organic agriculture district.