Keywords
Gamboru
Perception
Risk
How to Cite
Abstract
This study assessed the risk awareness of pesticide presence in vegetables consumed in Maiduguri Borno State, Nigeria. Gamboru Market being the major center of vegetable trade was purposefully selected as the point of data collection. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire administered to vegetable consumers. A total of 135 vegetable consumers were interviewed in Gamboru Market in 2018 (mean age 28.8 years) using accidental sampling method to assess the risk perception and awareness of consumers on pesticide presence in vegetables. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics of frequency, mean, percentages and standard deviation. It was observed that majority of consumers are aware of pesticides application in vegetable production (92.6%) even though 80% of them have never noticed any sign of pesticide presence in vegetables they consume. However, 48% of the respondents do not know that consumption of vegetables with pesticide residues is harmful to human health. 35% of the respondents disagree that consumption of vegetables with pesticide residues can pose danger to human health, 18% also strongly disagree with that, while 29% of the respondents agree and 23% strongly agree consumption of vegetable with pesticide residues can pose danger to health. It is recommended that responsible agencies like Nigeria Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) should survey and monitor all the food commodities to prevent indiscriminate exposure of pesticides, special education to create awareness about the dangers of pesticides consumption.
References
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