Proliferation of Different Categories of Chemical Pesticides and Respiratory Disease Risk for Farmers in the Nyiragongo Health Zone in North Kivu, DRC

The use of pesticides has increased due to their widespread application in agricultural and environmental pest control. There are thousands of categories of pesticides, each with a specific chemical composition and use. Pesticides form a major farm input with many farmers in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) continually applying pesticides to boost their crop production. Some of these pesticides have been banned or restricted but still find their ways into the farmers hands. However, in the Nyiragongo health zone, in North Kivu, thousands of farmers are victims of respiratory poisoning caused by chemical pesticides. The objective of this study, therefore, was to determine the proliferation of different categories of chemical pesticides and respiratory disease risk for farmers in the Nyiragongo health zone in North Kivu, DRC. The study used a retrospective matched case-control design targeting 183,988 farmers in the Nyiragongo health zone from which a sample of 302 farmers selected. Data was collected using a questionnaire, and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The study established that five chemical pesticides, four insecticides and one insecticide, were significantly associated with the risk of respiratory diseases among farmers in the Nyiragongo health zone in North Kivu. Among these, three pesticides; Carbaryl 85 WP, Deltamethrin, and Deltamethrin presented a significant risk compared to all other pesticides.In addition to the toxicity of chemical pesticides, the risk of disease was exacerbated by poor knowledge and poor pesticide handling practices by farmers. The study therefore recommends the DRC Government improve the policy environment by putting in place provincial mechanisms to fight corruption and customs fraud. Also, there is need for the state services to establish an agricultural monitoring system (agricultural monitors) for permanent support and guidance of farmers in the rational use of chemical pesticides in agricultural areas.