Determination of attitudes and behaviors of carrot producers towards pesticide use in Meram (Konya) and Beypazari (Ankara) districts

This study was conducted by a face-to-face questionnaire to 80 randomly selected producers in order to find out about the attitudes and behaviors of carrot producers in Meram (Konya) and Beypazarı (Ankara) districts towards pesticide use in 2021. According to the findings, it was determined that most producers (60%) were primary and secondary school graduates (62,5%) between the ages of 18-44. The most common problems encountered by the producers in the last few years were found to be plant diseases (45%), weeds (43,75%), and pests (11,25%). Most of the producers stated that they obtained pesticides from pesticide dealers, and they determined the doses of pesticides according to the recommendations of the pesticide dealers and their own experience, but they did not receive training on the use of pesticides and the source they used most when purchasing/selecting pesticides was their knowledge and experience. It was found that 50% of the producers determined the spraying time according to their own experience, and most of them did not act consciously in terms of some issues during the use of pesticides. However, all of the producers complied with the interval between the last spraying and harvest. Producers expressed that some pesticides might leave residues on the crops (48,75%), pesticides might leave residues on crops due to application errors (23,75%), pesticides did not leave any residues on crops (15%), pesticide residues could be cleaned if washed with water, and pesticides did not penetrate the crop (12,5%). They destroyed the empty pesticide containers by burning (40%) and throwing them away (31,25%). Although 60% of the producers reported that they poured pesticide mixed water, which was formed while cleaning the spraying tank and increased after each use, to one side of the field, the majority of the producers were found to be aware of the negative effects of pesticides on the environment and other living things as well as the negative effects of pesticide residues in the crops on human health.