Determination of attitudes and behaviors of olive producers towards pesticide use in Gemlik and Orhangazi districts of Bursa province

In this study, which was carried out in Gemlik and Orhangazi districts of Bursa in 2021, it was aimed to determine the attitudes and behaviors of olive producers towards pesticide use. A face-to-face questionnaire was conducted with 134 randomly selected producers in the study region. According to the results obtained, it was determined that 82,2% of the producers were 45 years old and over, and 54,5% of them were primary school graduates. It was determined that the producers used fungicides (59,7%) and insecticides (40,3%) the most in the last few years, and the most common plant diseases and pests were olive leaf spot (61,9%) and olive moth (22,4%), respectively. Most producers were found to obtain the pesticides from the pesticide dealers and determined the doses of pesticides according to the pesticide label and the recommendations of the dealers, but they have no training on the use of pesticides, and they benefited from the provincial/district directorates of agriculture to determine the spraying time. Most of them complied with the interval between the last spraying and harvest. Producers stated that some pesticides might leave residues on the crops (42,5%), the residues could be cleaned if washed with water, and the pesticide did not penetrate the crop (26,1%). They destroyed the empty pesticide containers by burning (47%) and throwing them away (44%). Although 41,8% of the producers stated that they poured pesticide mixed water, which increased after use and formed while cleaning the spraying tank, to one side of the orchard, and 29,1% to the sewer, the majority of the producers expressed that pesticides were harmful to the environment and other living things, and also pesticide residues in the crops were harmful to human health. The findings obtained as a result of the study were evaluated, and suggestions were made.