Agriculture is one of the principal sectors of Ghana’s economy. The country has for the past few years experienced a continuous decline in GDP contribution from the sector, but it still remains the foundation on which the country’s economy rests. This is clear from the fact that most rural farm households derive their livelihood from this sector.
The sector contributed 22.0% against 28.6% from the industrial sector and 49.5% from the services sector to the GDP of the country. In Ghana, the agricultural sector is principally dominated by small-scale farmers. Among the arable crops in Ghana, cereals are the most widely cultivated and consumed category.
Maize continues to lead as the most important staple food in Ghana. This is because maize is very important for improving food security and poverty reduction as it is the staple food for most Ghanaians. Considering the soaring population in Ghana and heavy dependence on agriculture for food, farmers have adopted some strategies in the bid to increase the productivity of crops.
These are an intensive use of land, agrochemical usage, irrigation, disease, and pest resistant varieties, and so forth. Farmers are highly motivated to use these strategies due to the emphasis placed by most agricultural development policies in Ghana which suggest the use of external inputs such as machinery and agrochemicals as the panacea to increasing food productivity.
This has led to increasing the use of synthetic agrochemicals instead of the biological, cultural, and mechanical methods for boosting production, and controlling pests, weeds, and diseases. Agrochemical is any chemical that is used in agricultural production to improve productivity and control pests and diseases.
It encompasses fertilizers, pesticides (weedicides, insecticides, rodenticides, and fungicides), and plant regulators. In the bid to control maize pests such as stem borers, armyworms, silkworms, weevils, weeds, and maize diseases such as downy mildew, maize rust, leaf blight, and leaf spot, for improvement in productivity, maize farmers have over the years resorted to the use of agrochemicals. The types of agrochemicals used are grouped into pesticides (fungicides, herbicides, insecticides, rodenticides, etc.) and fertilizers.
The use of pesticides by farmers to control weeds, increase agricultural productivity, and preserve agricultural produce has reached a crescendo thereby calling for urgent attention. The use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) remains a thing of choice for these maize farmers. Other precautionary measures like avoiding eating, drinking, and smoking during agrochemical application are still not adhered to by farmers. Instead of farmers properly disposing of empty containers of agrochemicals, they use them for fetching water, keeping cooked food in them, storing seed stocks for next season’s usage, and so forth.
Many farmers do not have adequate knowledge and information on the health hazards associated with the handling and use of pesticides. Inappropriate use of pesticides to control pests and diseases has major health implications for smallholder farmers and this is now on the global scale attracting the global attention of researchers, policy-makers, and the general public (consumers). Improper use and disposal of containers of pesticides are mainly caused by inadequate knowledge, inadequate equipment, and storage, application of unregistered and nonapproved pesticides, and the use of excessive dosage. The exposure of farmers to agrochemicals has short-term and long-term effects.
The ability to apply the right quantity is dependent on awareness of the health implications and the physiological effect on crop output and the quality of the produce. Agrochemicals affect maize crops directly. Overdose and much exposure of maize plant to agrochemicals cause scorch, yellowing, necrosis of the foliage, and distortions of the leaves. In this instance, a higher rate of application has the potency to affect maize output level. Residues of agrochemicals sometimes remain in maize edible parts which have a health impact on the consumer.
Despite these, manufacturers of agrochemicals exploit several methods such as graphs, labels, and pictures to raise the awareness of the users about the health risks associated with their use of the products. Government agencies (Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Standard Board and Environmental Protection Agency) and Nongovernmental Organizations (NGOs) have not relented on their efforts to create farmers’ awareness of the health implications of agrochemical use.
Meanwhile, the achievable targets have not been reached. This means that there are certain socioeconomic and demographic factors that influence the farmer’s awareness level of the health implications of agrochemical use. The study, therefore, seeks to assess the factors that influence the farmers’ awareness of the health implications of agrochemical use as well as the effect of the awareness on maize output.
The study is expected to contribute significantly to information and knowledge on the factors that influence maize farmers’ awareness levels of health implications of agrochemical use. The study will also provide information to policy-makers and agricultural extension officers to come out with effective training programs for farmers.
It is, therefore, important to know the limiting factors to farmers’ awareness of health risks associated with agrochemical use. The research outcome can, therefore, be used by the Ministry of Agriculture, agrochemical companies, and other agencies to raise awareness of the need for safe handling and use of agrochemical by farmers through the identification of the drivers that influences farmers’ level of awareness of health implications of agrochemical use.
Below is the list of some agro chemical shops in Accra, location, telephone and working hours:
- AGRI UNIVERSE VET SHOP – AGRO CHEMICAL SHOP IN ACCRA
This is one of the agro chemical shops in Accra.
Agrochemicals supplier in Accra, Ghana.
You can visit this store for the best agricultural products at affordable prices.
Location: Okai Kwei Rd, Accra, Ghana
Telephone: +233 24 464 0514
Working hours:
Monday 8AM–5PM
Tuesday 8AM–5PM
Wednesday 8AM–5PM
Thursday 8AM–5PM
Friday 8AM–5PM
Saturday 8AM–5PM
Sunday Closed - CROPLIFE GHANA – AGRO-CHEMICAL SHOP
Agrochemicals supplier in Accra, Ghana
Telephone: +233 24 427 3075
Working hours:
Monday 8AM–4PM
Tuesday 8AM–4PM
Wednesday 8AM–4PM
Thursday 8AM–4PM
Friday 8AM–4PM
Saturday Closed
Sunday Closed - CALLI GHANA – AGRO-CHEMICAL SHOP IN ACCRA
You can visit this store for the best farm products at cheap prices.
Agrochemicals supplier in Accra, Ghana
Telephone: +233 24 433 7341 - TECH 9 AGROCHEMICAL AND PEST CONTROL SERVICES (ACCRA – GHANA)
Agrochemicals supplier in Accra, Ghana
Location: Kpakpo Samoa Road, Accra, Ghana
Telephone: +233 50 656 5643 - FIRST SAMUEL 2:6-7 AGRO-CHEMICAL SHOP IN ACCRA
Agrochemicals supplier in Greater Accra
Location: universal oil filling station, Madina Zongo Junction opposite, Accra, Ghana
Telephone: +233 24 326 9988
Working hours:
Monday 7AM–6PM
Tuesday 7AM–6PM
Wednesday 7AM–6PM
Thursday 7AM–6PM
Friday 7AM–6PM
Saturday 7AM–6PM
Sunday Closed - RMG GHANA LIMITED – AGRO CHEMICAL SHOP IN ACCRA
RMG is one of the best agriculture and farm product producers giving Ghanaian farmers value for money.
Agrochemicals supplier in Accra, Ghana
Telephone: No. 14 Narku Ipan Rd., near Nyaho Clinic, Airport Residential Area, Accra, Ghana
Telephone: +233 30 277 6447
Working hours:
Monday 8AM–5PM
Tuesday 8AM–5PM
Wednesday 8AM–5PM
Thursday 8AM–5PM
Friday 8AM–5PM
Saturday Closed
Sunday Closed - AGROCHEMICAL SHOPS AT KANESHIE MARKET
Agrochemicals supplier in Accra, Ghana
Location: F83/Aborlebu Crescent, Labone, Ghana
Telephone: +233 24 817 3239
Working hours:
Monday 8AM–5PM
Tuesday 8AM–5PM
Wednesday 8AM–5PM
Thursday 8AM–5PM
Friday 8AM–5PM
Saturday 9AM–1PM
Sunday Closed