Pesticide Use Behavior and Perceived Environmental Impact: A Study in Karnataka, India

This study investigates pesticide use behavior and its perceived environmental impact among farmers in northern Karnataka, India, focusing on three key crops: paddy, cabbage, and grape.Conducted between 2019 and 2022, the research surveyed 240 farmers (80 for each crop) from the districts of Koppal, Belagavi, and Vijayapura.A structured interview process was used to collect data on seven dimensions of pesticide use behavior: pest identi ication, pesticide selection, concentration and mixing, types of sprayers and spraying methods, personal protection, environmental-friendly practices, and pesticide waste disposal.The methodology involved calculating a Pesticide Use Behavior Index for each crop, with scores based on farmers' responses across these dimensions.The data was analyzed using frequency, percentage, and categorization into low, medium, and high pesticide use behavior groups.Results showed that grape farmers exhibited the highest behavior index (50.48%),followed by paddy (48.52%) and cabbage (43.28%).Farmers demonstrated strong pest identi ication skills, with over 60% showing competence in identifying pests in all crops.However, the use of organic pesticides was minimal (3.88% to 9.88%) across crops, and adherence to Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices was similarly low.The study also examined farmers' perceptions of the environmental impact of pesticide use.While (47.50%) of paddy farmers perceived a high impact, (37.50%) of grape farmers and (35.00%) of cabbage farmers rated the impact as medium.The indings highlight the need for greater adoption of organic alternatives and awareness of sustainable pesticide practices to mitigate environmental harm.