Herbicide application in maize and cassava crops, impact on environment and population health in the department of Vavoua (Côte d’Ivoire)

The present study analyses Vavoua department agricultural producer’s knowledge, practices and attitudes regarding herbicide application and their impact on human health and the environment. It covered nine (9) selected agricultural sites including Brouafla-Nattis, Bénoufla, Vavoua, Koudougou PK8, Koudougou PK5, Bidiafla, Bahiri (Bafla), Brouafla Kouya and Bonoufla, for a structured quantitative survey involving 72 producers. More than 95% of the surveyed producers systematically use phytosanitary products including glyphosate-based herbicides. The majority of producers (95%) have not received any training on the use of plant protection products and do not have a good knowledge of application rates and treatment frequencies. The diversity of phytosanitary treatment methods is explained by the lack of training and especially by the lack of supervision of producers that could have mitigated the harmful effects on human such as dizziness, nasal congestion, colds, redness of the eyes, nausea and vomiting, etc., and on the physical environment.