An agriculture and health inter-sectorial research process to reduce hazardous pesticide health impacts among smallholder farmers in the Andes

The use of highly hazardous pesticides by smallholder farmers constitutes a classic trans-sectoral 'wicked problem'. We share our program of research in potato and vegetable farming communities in the Andean highlands, working with partners from multiple sectors to confront this problem over several...

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Autores principales: Cole, Donald C., Orozco, F., Pradel, W., Suquillo, J., Mera, X., Chacón, A., Prain, Gordon, Wanigaratne, S., Leah, J.
Formato: Journal Article
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: Springer 2011
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/67709
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author Cole, Donald C.
Orozco, F.
Pradel, W.
Suquillo, J.
Mera, X.
Chacón, A.
Prain, Gordon
Wanigaratne, S.
Leah, J.
author_browse Chacón, A.
Cole, Donald C.
Leah, J.
Mera, X.
Orozco, F.
Pradel, W.
Prain, Gordon
Suquillo, J.
Wanigaratne, S.
author_facet Cole, Donald C.
Orozco, F.
Pradel, W.
Suquillo, J.
Mera, X.
Chacón, A.
Prain, Gordon
Wanigaratne, S.
Leah, J.
author_sort Cole, Donald C.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description The use of highly hazardous pesticides by smallholder farmers constitutes a classic trans-sectoral 'wicked problem'. We share our program of research in potato and vegetable farming communities in the Andean highlands, working with partners from multiple sectors to confront this problem over several projects.We engaged in iterative cycles of mixed methods research around particular questions, actions relevant to stakeholders, new proposal formulation and implementation followed by evaluation of impacts. Capacity building occurred among farmers, technical personnel, and students from multiple disciplines. Involvement of research users occurred throughout: women and men farmers, non-governmental development organizations, Ministries of Health and Agriculture, and, in Ecuador, the National Council on Social Participation.Pesticide poisonings were more widespread than existing passive surveillance systems would suggest. More diversified, moderately developed agricultural systems had lower pesticide use and better child nutrition. Greater understanding among women of crop management options and more equal household gender relations were associated with reduced farm pesticide use and household pesticide exposure. Involvement in more organic agriculture was associated with greater household food security and food sovereignty. Markets for safer produce supported efforts by smallholder farmers to reduce hazardous pesticide use.Participatory interventions included: promoting greater access to alternative methods and inputs in a store co-sponsored by the municipality; producing less harmful inputs such as compost by women farmers; strengthening farmer organizations around healthier and more sustainable agriculture; marketing safer produce among social sectors; empowering farmers to act as social monitors; and using social monitoring results to inform decision makers. Uptake by policy makers has included: the Ecuadorian Ministry of Health rolling out pesticide poisoning surveillance modeled on our system; the Ecuadorian Association of Municipalities holding a national virtual forum on healthier agriculture; and the Ecuadorian Ministry of Agriculture promulgating restrictions on highly hazardous pesticides in June 2010.Work with multiple actors is needed to shift agriculture towards greater sustainability and human health, particularly for vulnerable smallholders.
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spelling CGSpace677092025-11-06T14:06:31Z An agriculture and health inter-sectorial research process to reduce hazardous pesticide health impacts among smallholder farmers in the Andes Cole, Donald C. Orozco, F. Pradel, W. Suquillo, J. Mera, X. Chacón, A. Prain, Gordon Wanigaratne, S. Leah, J. pesticide actions health hazards small farms The use of highly hazardous pesticides by smallholder farmers constitutes a classic trans-sectoral 'wicked problem'. We share our program of research in potato and vegetable farming communities in the Andean highlands, working with partners from multiple sectors to confront this problem over several projects.We engaged in iterative cycles of mixed methods research around particular questions, actions relevant to stakeholders, new proposal formulation and implementation followed by evaluation of impacts. Capacity building occurred among farmers, technical personnel, and students from multiple disciplines. Involvement of research users occurred throughout: women and men farmers, non-governmental development organizations, Ministries of Health and Agriculture, and, in Ecuador, the National Council on Social Participation.Pesticide poisonings were more widespread than existing passive surveillance systems would suggest. More diversified, moderately developed agricultural systems had lower pesticide use and better child nutrition. Greater understanding among women of crop management options and more equal household gender relations were associated with reduced farm pesticide use and household pesticide exposure. Involvement in more organic agriculture was associated with greater household food security and food sovereignty. Markets for safer produce supported efforts by smallholder farmers to reduce hazardous pesticide use.Participatory interventions included: promoting greater access to alternative methods and inputs in a store co-sponsored by the municipality; producing less harmful inputs such as compost by women farmers; strengthening farmer organizations around healthier and more sustainable agriculture; marketing safer produce among social sectors; empowering farmers to act as social monitors; and using social monitoring results to inform decision makers. Uptake by policy makers has included: the Ecuadorian Ministry of Health rolling out pesticide poisoning surveillance modeled on our system; the Ecuadorian Association of Municipalities holding a national virtual forum on healthier agriculture; and the Ecuadorian Ministry of Agriculture promulgating restrictions on highly hazardous pesticides in June 2010.Work with multiple actors is needed to shift agriculture towards greater sustainability and human health, particularly for vulnerable smallholders. 2011-12 2015-07-30T06:21:26Z 2015-07-30T06:21:26Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/67709 en Open Access application/pdf Springer Cole, D.C.; Orozco, F.; Pradel, W.; Suquillo, J.; Mera, X.; Chacon, A.; Prain, G.; Wanigaratne, S.; Leah, J. 2011. An agriculture and health inter-sectorial research process to reduce hazardous pesticide health impacts among smallholder farmers in the Andes. BMC International Health and Human Rights. (UK). ISSN 1472-698X. 11(Suppl 2):S6.
spellingShingle pesticide actions
health hazards
small farms
Cole, Donald C.
Orozco, F.
Pradel, W.
Suquillo, J.
Mera, X.
Chacón, A.
Prain, Gordon
Wanigaratne, S.
Leah, J.
An agriculture and health inter-sectorial research process to reduce hazardous pesticide health impacts among smallholder farmers in the Andes
title An agriculture and health inter-sectorial research process to reduce hazardous pesticide health impacts among smallholder farmers in the Andes
title_full An agriculture and health inter-sectorial research process to reduce hazardous pesticide health impacts among smallholder farmers in the Andes
title_fullStr An agriculture and health inter-sectorial research process to reduce hazardous pesticide health impacts among smallholder farmers in the Andes
title_full_unstemmed An agriculture and health inter-sectorial research process to reduce hazardous pesticide health impacts among smallholder farmers in the Andes
title_short An agriculture and health inter-sectorial research process to reduce hazardous pesticide health impacts among smallholder farmers in the Andes
title_sort agriculture and health inter sectorial research process to reduce hazardous pesticide health impacts among smallholder farmers in the andes
topic pesticide actions
health hazards
small farms
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/67709
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