Socioeconomic and institutional factors associated with pesticide safety knowledge among vegetable farmers in Central Uttar Pradesh, India

Introduction Unsafe pesticide handling in vegetable production poses risks to applicators, consumers and ecosystems. This study assessed pesticide safety knowledge and its socioeconomic and institutional correlates among vegetable growers in Central Uttar Pradesh, India. Methods A cross-sectional ex-post facto survey was conducted in 2025 among 320 growers from eight villages in Kannauj and Farrukhabad districts, using structured interviews supplemented by field documentation. Knowledge was assessed using a 38-item test. Nine predictors were examined using multiple linear regression; an observed-variable path representation summarized the same adjusted relationships. Results Mean age was 41.58 years; 78.13% were literate and 55.94% operated holdings below 1 ha. Low, medium and high farming experience comprised 43 (13.44%), 230 (71.88%) and 47 (14.69%) growers, respectively. Medium knowledge predominated (65.31%), followed by low (17.50%) and high (17.19%). Regression explained 35.6% of knowledge-score variance (adjusted R 2 = 0.337; F (9, 310) = 19.023, p < 0.001). Education ( B = 0.282, p = 0.006), experience ( B = 0.080, p = 0.012) and information-source score ( B = 0.300, p < 0.001) had positive adjusted associations. Training was not significant ( p = 0.731); 85.31% reported none. The saturated path representation had zero degrees of freedom, precluding meaningful global-fit interpretation. Discussion The findings support evaluating access to credible safety information and training quality and reach. Cross-sectional associations do not establish causation, and interpretation remains subject to predictor-coding and diagnostic limitations.