Health Risk Estimate for Pesticide-Users Vegetable Farmers Cameroon

Developing countries, Cameroon inclusive rely on pesticides for agricultural production. High temperatures coupled with high humidity of tropics causes¿ pest and disease problems to increase. The use of pesticides in the tropics has been highly pronounced due to standards for cosmetic quality in export markets for fresh fruits and vegetables. Pesticides were subsidized by 100% in the 80s and 90s causing farmers to depend on chemical pesticides for agricultural production. Small scale farmers are often left on their own; rely on neighbouring cities and local dealers for pesticides and farm inputs, lack the necessary training to update their knowledge. Common to find farmers spraying without body covering, smoking, eating and drinking during spraying, using fake, banned, adulterated, expired pesticides, using pesticides meant for cocoa on vegetables, and sometimes the equipment they use leak. Although the multinational companies use technological inputs, the workers are still exposed to pesticides during mixing and also when airplanes are used to spray the fields during working hours. Common illnesses include body itches, cough, stomach ulcer, eye problems, and respiratory problem.