Determination of awareness levels of walnut producers in plant protection applications (a case study of Bitlis province)

Abstract

The survey was conducted in 2020 to determine the awareness level of walnut producers regarding crop protection practices in Adilcevaz and Hizan districts of Bitlis province, where walnut production is widespread. With this in mind, a face-to-face survey was conducted using a simple random sampling method among 87 producers in a total of 10 randomly selected villages from two districts. Within the scope of the research, walnut growers were found to be highly educated and most had non-agricultural income. The manufacturers in question take into account the recommendations of sellers and Agriculture and Forestry department when choosing pesticides and deciding on the usage dose rates, that the brand recognition and active ingredients are important to pesticide preferences, that they don't use the same pesticides in the fight against the same diseases and pests, They start spraying without seeing the signs of disease and harmful factors in the plant, they apply the recommended dose in drug applications, pesticides used leave residue on product. They observe the waiting time between spraying and harvesting and wear protective clothing and masks during spraying, they do not simply throw-away empty pesticide box and packages used after the application into the agricultural fields or their surroundings, they clean the sprayer, but they use the sprayer without calibration, they mix pesticides and prefer cultural methods over chemical methods, and they do not have any knowledge about the word biopesticide. It is known that producers generally choose chemical control in the solution of plant protection issues, and the indiscriminate use of these pesticides has many adverse effects on human and environmental health.