Agrochemical Use in South Africa:
The toxicological and sociological impacts of agrochemicals on susceptible
populations in South Africa’s agricultural sector
By: Sarah Marquis
ENSC 501: 2013
Primary Supervisor: Dr. Louise Winn
Secondary Examiner: Dr. Gary VanLoon
March 22nd, 2013
2
Table of Content
Abstract
4
Introduction
5
The South African Agricultural Sector
10
Historical Influences
11
Agrochemicals Used in the South African Agricultural Sector and Their Health
Impacts
14
Acute and Chronic Toxicology
16
The Importance of Cholinesterase
17
Obsolete Pesticides
18
Susceptible Populations: The Low Income Farmer
20
The DOP System
20
The Perspective of the Farmer: General Awareness of Negative Impacts of
Agrochemicals and Safety Practices
21
Personal Protective Wear
22
Pictograms as a Risk Communication Mechanism
23
Gender Differences and the Sexual Division of Labour in the South African Agricultural
Sector
24
Reducing Agrochemical Poisoning: The Importance of Education
30
Sustainability in South African Agriculture - A Possibility?
32
Alternative Agricultural Systems and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) 33
3
Conclusion
34
Acknowledgements
38
References
39
4
Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to explore the influences and impacts of South
Africa’s use of agrochemicals in its agricultural sector. South Africa has a rich history,
and some of those historical influences, such as apartheid and the subsequent
capitalization and industrialization of the agricultural sector are relevant to the subject of
agrochemical toxicity. The paper then explores the different types of agrochemicals used
in South Africa. Different types of pesticides have differing levels of toxicity, and the
adverse health impacts of high exposure are varied. Furthermore, I look at obsolete
pesticides as a major problem in South Africa, and the need for a method of disposal of
these chemicals. The paper explores susceptible populations who are harmed by the
excessive use of agrochemicals. The low income farming population is at a high risk for
agrochemical poisoning, due to a severe lack of knowledge and communication of the
health risks involved with agrochemical use. Furthermore, I discuss the evolving roles of
women in the South African agricultural context, including the fact that female farmers
are often at a higher risk for unhealthy pesticide exposure, and are a population that is
being marginalized through lack of proper safety education and training. The paper
concludes by exploring different ways to reduce agrochemical poisoning, such as the
implementation of education programs and pesticide safety programs. Alternatives to
high input agriculture are also discussed in terms of sustainability. Integrated pest
management (IPM) is a promising alternative as it stresses the need to use agrochemicals
sparingly. Also, IPM is a proven method to educate and empower the farmer. The model
of agriculture in South Africa is unsustainable, and the system needs to change.
5
Introduction
South Africa’s unique and diverse environment is home to around 50 million
people. Its agricultural system is complex since it has been impacted by the highly
influential apartheid era, from which the entire country is still recovering. For a long
time, the agricultural system was divided between large-scale white commercial farms
and black smallholder farms (Rother et al. 2008). Commercial farms are profit-based,
whereas smallholder farms are of a smaller size, and usually support a single family. But
now, as the country emerges from the era of apartheid, a new class of emerging farmers is
coming to light: black farmers who are entering into the commercial system. Meanwhile,
pesticide use in South Africa is growing. Pesticide use in most developing countries is
becoming an increasingly serious environmental problem due to factors such as water
contamination, ecosystem disruption and habitat contamination. Agricultural pesticides,
in particular, can be very harmful to the people who are interacting with them on a
regular basis. The unsafe application and interaction with these agrochemicals can have
negative health impacts upon emerging farmers, chemical applicators on commercial
farms and on smallholder farms. South Africa’s increasing dependency on pesticides is
alienating some of the most important people within the agricultural system. This
situation is leaving various groups within South Africa’s population to be highly
susceptible to the health impacts of pesticide use, most notably female farmers. Gender
inequalities within the system are becoming increasingly apparent as the role of women
within agricultural contexts is evolving. Women always played an important part in
agriculture, yet recently, they are taking on more responsibilities that used to be
considered exclusively male (Naidoo et al. 2011).
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It is important to explore the reasons why pesticides are used to such a high
degree in South Africa. Detailed data on the specific amounts of pesticides imported into
the country or produced within the country are scarce. Yet, in 2002, statistics showed that
10 000 kl of liquid agrochemicals were produced within the country, of which 43% were
organophosphates, a type of agrochemical that can be quite toxic. In addition to domestic
production, South Africa has importation partnerships with countries including the
United States, Australia, Germany and China (Quinn et al. 2011). Factors driving the
country’s high-input agriculture are rooted in the political and socio-economic
atmosphere in the country. The government is encouraging the commercialization of the
emerging agricultural sector with the goal of economic growth. Furthermore, the
government is the driving force behind the desire for higher agricultural yields and a
generally higher level of production within all agricultural systems in the country. The
consequence is that farmers are becoming increasingly dependent on pesticides, so as to
transform their farms into profit and production-oriented businesses, rather than simply a
subsistence farm, which are farms or gardens that exist to sustain single families (Rother
et al 2008).
The agricultural labour force has been shaped by both race and gender issues,
which is why it is necessary to not only look at the residual impacts of the apartheid era
on the agricultural sector in South Africa, but it is also necessary to fully deconstruct the
gender differences that are ubiquitous in the agricultural labour system throughout the
country. Rural women working on mainly commercial farms demonstrate these dualities
of gender and race. Usually, female farmers are given informal work on commercial
farms, resulting in a lack of health services and training (London 2001). This creates a
7
higher risk of occupational hazards for this population. This example is simply one way
in which the risks involved with pesticide use are contributing to the marginalization of
susceptible populations.
The negative impacts of pesticides are exacerbated by the lack of training
received by small scale and emerging farmers. The lack of education within this industry
is especially apparent in some farm systems where agrochemical applicators cannot read
the labels on the pesticide containers. High rates of illiteracy, especially in rural
populations and within the population of female farmers, is seemingly not taken into
consideration by pesticide companies, nor the South African government.
This paper explores the different kinds of pesticides used in South Africa, and
their specific toxicological impacts. Many different types of pesticides are used on
emerging and commercial farms throughout the country. The chemicals may also be used
on subsistence farms as well, but amounts used are usually dependent on access and
affordability of the chemicals. On emerging and commercialized, profit-based, farm
systems that grow crops intended for sale, however, diverse pesticides are used, which
can have a variety of health impacts on farm labourers (Rother et al. 2008). The
chemicals used include insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides. Insecticides are subcategorized into pyrethroids, organophosphates, organochlorines, and carbamates.
Herbicides include the triazoles and the phosphonates. The fungicides include the
dithiocarbamates, copper compounds and sulphur compounds. The diverse chemicals are
used to varying degrees within agricultural systems, and they are categorized by the
biological mechanisms by which they interact with the crop. They also differ in the way
they interact with the human body, and thus levels of toxicity differ between each
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chemical (Rother and Jacobs 2008). Furthermore, there remains the issue of obsolete
pesticides that are banned by the government, but are still present throughout agricultural
systems in South Africa (Dalvie et al. 2005). Toxic levels of exposure to most of these
chemicals can result in a variety of adverse health effects. For example, the acute toxic
effects of organophosphates have particularly severe consequences, including respiratory
depression, slowed heartbeat, toxic psychosis and convulsions among many other
symptoms (Rother and Jacobs 2008). The danger of these types of chemicals is only
enhanced by the lack of protective measures that are used by farm workers and chemical
applicators. Protective wear is often expensive and in some cases, farm labourers have
not been trained and thus do not know the protective measures necessary for the use of
these types of dangerous chemicals.
It is becoming evident that pesticide regulations need to be enforced in all
developing countries, not just South Africa (London and Bailie 2001). Regulations need
to take into consideration the presence of dangerous pesticides. Evidence suggests that
unhealthy human exposures are a result of the unregulated use of agricultural chemicals.
Training programs also need to be looked into by the South African government as a
valid option to protect its lower class farm labourers from agrochemical poisonings.
A large study, spanning 24 countries examining the health impacts of pesticide
use on over 6300 small-scale, non-commercial farm systems, produced some interesting
research on the difference between pesticide poisoning in developed countries as opposed
to developing countries (Tomenson et al. 2009). They found the incidence of adverse
health effects due to pesticide exposure very low in most countries, yet African countries
showed a "disproportionate number of incidents". The authors cite numerous reasons why
9
this might be the case, including the failure to use appropriate equipment, or lack of
knowledge about the method of use of the pesticide. Evidently, the risk of pesticide
exposure is a significant issue in developing countries, especially South Africa, one of the
biggest importers of pesticides in Africa (Quinn et al. 2001). This risk is distinctly higher
for female farmers, who are taking on more and more responsibility in the agricultural
sector, especially in the rural areas of South Africa (Naidoo et al. 2008). It is estimated
that, in South Africa, women make up 70% of the total labour used in farming activities.
Throughout sub-Saharan Africa, women contribute to the food systems by producing
60%-80% of basic foodstuffs (London et al. 2002).
This evidence not only suggests a dire need for more research into this area of
study, but it indicates that agrochemicals are heavily depended upon in not only
developed countries, but developing countries as well. The consequences, however, are
more severe in developing countries as there is quantifiable evidence that pesticide
exposure is having a negative impact upon susceptible populations throughout the
developing world. A report by Jeyaratnam (1990) estimated 25 million occupational
pesticide poisonings each year in developing countries. Regulations need to be formed
upon this basis, and enforced efficiently and effectively. The evidence also suggests the
need for access to education and new training programs within the sector.
South Africa is one of the largest importers of agrochemicals in Africa, and this
fact demonstrates the country’s growing dependency on pesticides (Quinn et al. 2011).
The agricultural sector is contributing to the support of the domestic population, but
attempting to increase yields so as to increase exportation. To increase yields, more
pesticides are used. Furthermore, the increasing encouragement of the government to
10
produce more, and develop emerging farms into commercial farms is also a driving force
behind the agricultural sector's dependency on pesticides. The sector’s reliance on
agrochemicals is causing problems that arise when emerging farmers transition into
developing commercial farms without the proper training, education and management
skills (Quinn et al. 2011).
The negative health impacts of agrochemical use in South Africa may be an
indicator that the sector is becoming dependent on this new form of technology at the
expense of marginalized populations, such as female farmers, and labourers without
proper training. New agricultural systems should be researched such as conservation
agriculture systems, which are agricultural systems that attempt to conserve both
resources and the environment, and integrated pest management systems (IPM). These
systems may be essential to avoid the many negative impacts of a dependency on a
technology as hazardous as these dangerous agrochemicals.
The South African Agricultural Sector
South Africa does not have an abundance of arable land, and so it is important to
be able to produce as much as possible with the little land available. 12% of the country
is appropriate for the growth of rain-fed crops and only 3% of the total land in the
country can be considered high-potential arable land (Goldblatt 2010). Production varies
between different crops, but maize is one of the most important crops grown in the
country, with a large portion of farmland being dedicated to the growth and harvest of
this product. Exported products include a large variety of deciduous fruits, such as grapes
11
(and hence, wine), and other horticultural crops such as bananas, cotton, palm oil,
pineapple, rubber, and sugar cane (McIntyre et al. 2009). Figure 1 shows the
geographical areas in which specific crops are grown throughout the country of South
Africa.
Figure 1: This figure shows the different crops that are grown in South Africa and it also
shows the geography of land use throughout the country.
Historical Influences: The Apartheid Era
One of the most important factors of the agricultural sector in South Africa is the
impact of apartheid on land distribution in South Africa. During the apartheid era, which
12
lasted from 1948 to 1994, the government implemented policies that lead to the
systematic racial segregation of the country. One such policy declared that black South
Africans were to be forced to relocate to the homelands, also known as the bantusans.
These homelands were overpopulated and the farmland that was available was degraded
quickly. The apartheid era contributed to uneven development and unsustainable
agriculture. Its legacy, among many other things, is severe environmental degradation
(Mather 1996).
During apartheid and in the years following its dismantlement in 1994,
commercialization and industrialization of the agricultural sector was especially rapid.
The shift towards intensification in agriculture has been increasingly apparent in recent
years (Rother et al. 2008). The amount of chemical fertilizer used on maize farmland has
increased dramatically in the last 50 years; statistics show that in 1966, agrochemical use
on maize averaged approximately 20 kg per hectare, and by 1981, it had increased to 100
kg per hectare (Mather 1996). Intensification of agriculture has also lead to farmers using
land that is not optimal for crop growth. This not only increases the amount of
agrochemicals used on the crops, but also is inherently unsustainable. Such practices have
lead to fluctuations in agricultural yields in the maize industry, for example, which is
having an impact on the livelihoods of farmers (Mather 1996).
Two decades after the official dismantlement of apartheid, South Africa is still
struggling with the land question. The government has set about to reform land
distribution so as to reverse the racialized land dispossession that occurred during
apartheid. The goal was to redistribute 24.6 million hectares of white-owned agricultural
land by 1999. However, by the end of 2011, less than 7.2% of this land had been re-
13
distributed (O’Laughlin et al. 2013). The agricultural sector is undergoing a radical
reconstruction, yet the social issues of racial segregation linger. The land reform policies
are, however, giving way to the emerging farmer.
Both land reform policies, however unsuccessful they seem to be, and the
commercialization of the agrarian sector resulted in the appearance of a category of black
farmers, who work beyond the subsistence level, and are attempting to move up into a
fully commercial business. These farmers are known as the “emerging farmers” (Rother
et al. 2008). The government is pushing commercial farming, and as a result high input
agriculture, to increase agricultural yields of the country and boost the economic status of
the country. The duality between the intensive farming sector and the subsistence, smallscale farming sector is a primary feature of the South African agricultural system. The
commercial sector, primarily owned by white farmers, is divided from the small-scale
sector, which is made up of mostly black farmers. Emerging farmers are forming a
middle ground between the two industries (Hall 2004). However, the clear division of
race in South Africa’s agricultural sector influences the marginalization of the lowincome black farmer.
Furthermore, the commercial agricultural industry is having a significant impact
on the use of agrochemicals by farm labourers on both commercialized farms and on
emerging farms. The industry is playing a key role in both the marketing of these
agrochemicals and the training of emerging farmers. Dependence on agrochemicals is
considered a necessity by the industry, as representatives of agribusinesses and the
government emphasize that high agricultural yields would be impossible without the
heavy use of agrochemicals. In fact, one of the only qualifications required for an
14
emerging farmer to upgrade to commercial status depends on their use of agrochemicals
(Rother et al. 2008). Most training programs that are available to emerging farmers that
concern agrochemical use are provided by the Department of Agriculture or large
agribusinesses. These programs usually stress the necessity for agrochemicals, and
underplay their safety risks (Rother et al. 2008).
South Africa’s dependency on agrochemicals is becoming evident as they are
spending more and more money on their importation. South Africa is investing its
economic and environmental future in agrochemicals, spending $268 million in 1990,
and increasing expenditure to over $600 million by the mid 1990’s (Dalvie et al. 2009).
Researchers have also noted that the mass of pesticides being sold to the biggest crop
sectors in South Africa has been steadily increasing. Particularly dangerous
agrochemicals like aldicarb, endosulfan and chlorpyrifos are still being imported into the
country (Dalvie et al. 2009). These agrochemicals have been linked to developmental and
neurotoxic effects in humans.
Agrochemicals Used in the South African Agricultural Sector and Their
Health Impacts
Agrochemicals are made up of an active ingredient and inert substances, which
can be solvents or surfactants. The active ingredient is the portion of the compound that
destroys, or repels the pest. They are classified into different categories called the
organophosphates, organochlorines, carbamates, organobromides, inorganics, phenoxy
herbicides, insect growth regulators, and pyrethroids. The active ingredients, however,
15
sometimes impact non-target organisms, humans included. This occurrence can result in
the intoxication of the non-target organism (Rother and Jacobs 2008).
Agrochemicals can be classified into different categories. These categories
include insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, rodenticides, fumigants, plant growth
regulators and a miscellaneous category (this category consists of arsenicals) (London
1992). The agrochemicals that are most likely to be involved in acute occupational
intoxications are the insecticides: most notably organophosphorus and carbamate ester
agrochemicals (Ecobichon 2001).
High exposures to agrochemicals can cause both acute and chronic health
problems. Acute intoxications occur after short-term, yet very high, levels of exposure.
Chronic impacts, however, are the consequence of much more long-term exposure.
Chronic intoxication from agrochemicals can result in reproductive issues,
carcinogenesis, neurotoxicity, immunotoxicity and hepatotoxicity.
Toxicity testing in the laboratory does not take into consideration various factors
that would make an impact on toxicity in South African farming environments, and thus
represents a limitation in research. For example, toxicity of chemcials can be enhanced
by dry, dusty and hot weather, especially if they are not stored correctly (London 1992).
In certain systems, more than one agrochemical may be used at one time. The toxicity of
two or more agrochemicals mixed together can change the nature and the health effects of
the chemicals. Other factors include the concentration of the agrochemical in solution.
One of the most important factors, however, is the frequency and intensity of exposures
(London 1992). The combination of a hot climate together with the frequency and
16
intensity of exposure makes South African farmers more vulnerable to agrochemical
toxicity.
Acute and Chronic Toxicology
Acute pesticide-related toxicological symptoms include skin irritation, dermatitis,
cough, conjunctivitis, metabolic symptoms, and in extreme cases, fatality (London 1992).
The majority of research on the subject of agrochemical toxicity has been done on acute
pesticide intoxication, as fatalities due to intoxication are a social, environmental and
health crisis in developing countries. Continued research into the danger of acute toxicity
of pesticides is ongoing. Researchers have been studying an acute toxicity symptom
called organophosphate-induced delayed polyneuropathy (OPIDP). It is a rare symptom,
and, as the name suggests, caused by high levels of exposure to organophosphates.
Researchers characterize the symptom by "distal degeneration of some axons in both the
peripheral and central nervous systems occurring 1-4 weeks after single or short-term
exposures." (Lotti and Moretto 2005). Related symptoms include muscle cramping,
muscle pain, numbness, weakness, and in extreme cases quadriplegia. OPIDP can be
caused by agrochemicals like chlorpyrifos, which is still used in South Africa, yet
severely restricted in other, more developed countries (Dalvie et al. 2009).
Research on chronic health impacts of agrochemical use is much less extensive
(Ecobichon 2001). Many different kinds of agrochemicals, however, are implicated in
chronic health impacts including carcinogenic and mutagenic effects. Proving a direct
link between these agrochemicals and their chronic health impacts is not easy, however,
17
and more research is definitely required (London 1992). Researchers looking at the link
between pesticide use and respiratory illnesses found a positive correlation between the
two. They found an association between pesticide use and chronic bronchitis and
associated respiratory illnesses, such as asthma (Hoppin et al. 2007). In 2012, Starks et al.
found a positive correlation between pesticide exposure and adverse peripheral
neurological symptoms, like motor coordination effects, changes in deep tendon reflexes,
and reduced muscle strength (Starks et al. 2012).
The Importance of Cholinesterase
Cholinesterase is an enzyme found in the blood and plasma that interacts with a
neurotransmitter in the human brain. It is essential to neurological activity, and without it,
humans would suffer from neuromuscular paralysis, possibly resulting in fatality. Some
pesticides are cholinesterase-inhibiting compounds. A range of different types of
agrochemicals, such as the organophosphates, carbamates, organochlorines, pyrethroids
and bipyridals inhibit the production of cholinesterase in the human body. As such, levels
of cholinesterase in susceptible populations can be measured and pesticide exposures can
be estimated using this information (Rama and Jaga 1992). Cholinesterase testing has
proven to be a standardized measure of agrochemical exposure, especially in developing
countries (Naidoo et al. 2010). Furthermore, cholinesterase testing can be supplied
through local health care providers, allowing agricultural workers to know their levels of
exposure (London and Bailie 2001). This development could mitigate the occupational
hazards of pesticide poisoning by acting as a prevention measure.
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Obsolete Pesticides
Obsolete pesticides are highly toxic agrochemicals that have been restricted from
use due to their toxicity to humans and the environment. They can no longer be used for
their original purpose and they require disposal. Some time after the end of the apartheid
era, the government, big agribusinesses, and environmental and humanitarian NGOs
formed a partnership in the hopes of eliminating the use of obsolete pesticides from the
agricultural sector in South Africa. This was in the best interest of all parties involved
because the government was trying to boost the agricultural sector so it would be
competitive in the global market. To do this, South Africa's food exports would need to
meet pesticide guidelines of the countries to which it wanted to export. Thus, the National
Retrieval Project was undertaken (Dalvie et al. 2006). However, simply because the
pesticides were banned from use, there was a problem in that farmers, especially smallscale farmers, did not have the technology or the means to dispose of these stores of
agrochemicals (Dalvie et al. 2008). A study that was conducted in 2005 followed up with
the National Retrieval Project's attempt to eliminate these pesticides from the agricultural
sector. They found that the pesticides had not been disposed of properly and were, in
most cases, being stored on the premises of the farm. These researchers studied an area
called Stellenbosch in South Africa, and surveyed a total of 75 farms in the area. More
than half of these farms were in possession of obsolete pesticides and furthermore, the
farmer could not identify 30% of the obsolete agrochemicals that were found on the
premises (Dalvie et al. 2006).
19
These conditions demonstrate the problems associated with obsolete pesticides.
Farmers may not even be using these pesticides directly on their crops, but they are rarely
stored in the proper manner and thus the risk of exposure is very high for the labourers
working in close proximity to these stores. Furthermore, the containers can leak, making
the entire storage space hazardous. Leakages could also affect water sources and the
surrounding environment, both of which would increase the risk of high pesticide
exposure to humans and the environment (Dalvie et al. 2008).
This situation is the result of many different factors. First of all, obsolete
pesticides are still imported into South Africa, and aggressively marketed by the chemical
industry (Dalvie et al. 2009). Large agribusinesses are pressuring small-scale, emerging
farmers, as well as commercials farmers to acquire large amount of agrochemicals that
are sometimes obsolete and unusable. Farmers are not educated in the storage methods of
these agrochemicals and, consequently, farmers are put at a higher risk for toxic
exposure. The government needs to enforce regulations involving the presence of
obsolete pesticides. Obsolete pesticides should not be imported into the country, and the
government should provide safe disposal mechanisms. The presence of obsolete
pesticides clearly demonstrates the ways in which low-income farm labourers are being
taken advantage of by capitalist agribusinesses. The situation of obsolete pesticides in
South Africa is contributing to the marginalization of this susceptible population, and this
is a situation that desperately needs to be addressed.
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Susceptible Populations: The Low Income Farmer
The farming sector of South Africa includes some of the most poverty-stricken
people in the country. This population is marginalized by the system in place now, and is
at a severe socio-economic disadvantage. Farm labourers, both men and women, are
among the least educated, least literate sub-populations in South Africa. They do not
know the unregulated nature of the system in which they work; they have low awareness
of their employee rights and have limited access to medical benefits (Naidoo et al. 2010).
It must be noted that agrochemical poisoning is a result of not only the hazardous
chemicals that are being used, but of underlying conditions as well. These conditions
include poverty, alcohol dependency (which is alarmingly prevalent in South Africa’s
population of low-income farm labourers), HIV, AIDS, and general attitudes towards
agrochemicals and safety in the workplace.
The ‘Dop’ System
The ‘dop system is also an influential factor that is a significant part of the history
of the South African farming labour force. ‘Dop’ is the Afrikaan word for “alcoholic
drink”. The ‘dop’ System refers to the system in which South African farmers and
employers have historically paid their labourers in alcohol rations. It is not technically
legal today, but this rule is often not enforced. This system has simply contributed to the
vicious cycle of poverty that is so prevalent in this population. Furthermore, alcoholism is
extremely common within this group, and this actually increases the risks involved with
21
pesticide poisonings from a health perspective by weakening the immune system. The
negative health impacts of exposure to dangerous chemicals are enhanced in someone
who is dependent on alcohol (London 2001). Further evidence suggests that chronic
alcohol dependence impacts learning skills. Since learning skills are necessary for safety
in this type of industry, alcohol dependence clearly has a negative impact (London 1999).
In terms of social behaviour, women are sometimes affected by alcohol-induced domestic
violence. If they themselves are part of the ‘dop’ system, it may affect their reproductive
systems – they may give birth to children with birth defects or learning disabilities. In
some cases, people are affected more directly from the ‘dop’ system. In one case, 24 farm
labourers (12 women and 12 men) were poisoned by alcohol rations that were
contaminated by the agrochemical adicarb. This occurred in the Western Cape Province
of South Africa in 2001 (Lodon and Bailie 2001). The ‘dop’ system is a contributor to the
cycle of poverty in which the rural poor live. Although it is technically illegal today, the
payment of farm labourers with alcohol rations has had immense consequences within the
population (London 2001).
The Perspective of the Farmer: General Awareness of Negative Impacts of
Agrochemicals and Safety Practices
Different studies that have been conducted throughout Africa have explored
farmers’ perspectives on the dangers of agrochemicals. Different indicators of farmers’
relationships with agrochemicals are their use of personal protective wear, their hygienic
and sanitation practices and their abilities to understand labels, colour codes and
22
pictograms on the sides of agrochemical containers. In one rural farm context, a
researcher found that only 2% of the farmers that were interviewed agreed with the
statement “pesticides have potential negative side effects on rivers and the environment”
(Ajayi 2000). These results clearly demonstrate that the environmental toxicity risks
involved with agrochemicals are not being properly communicated within agricultural
systems in developing countries.
Personal Protective Wear
A study conducted in Ethiopia, found that farmers on commercial farms were
provided with inadequate protective wear. The study showed that only 32% of pesticide
sprayers in agricultural settings were using appropriate protective wear. Additionally,
there was a general negative attitude towards specialized protective wear, such as goggles
and gloves. There are many reasons that this could be happening. It is uncomfortable for
farm labourers to be wearing protective wear because it is so hot and dry in their work
environment. Furthermore, equipment could be expensive, and working without it is
simply a cost-cutting strategy (Mekonnen and Agonafir 2002).
A survey conducted in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa found that rural farm
labourers did not wear personal protective wear and often did not have the proper
protective equipment while mixing, measuring or applying agrochemicals. They often
used their hands for these jobs. This implies that there is a lack of pesticide safety
knowledge in this context, and/or that there is a lack of accessible personal protective
equipment.
23
Additionally, the use of hygienic and sanitation practices is almost always directly
correlated with access to a clean water source (Mekonnen and Agonafir 2002). Hand
washing and showering is sometimes not an option in extremely rural, water-scarce areas.
Farming communities should have the right to clean water from an uncontaminated and
accessible source. Unfortunately, this is not the case in many communities in developing
countries. Additionally, in some cases the water that is accessible near agricultural areas
may be contaminated with agrochemicals (Konradsen et al. 2003). Even in cases where
farm labourers are aware of general toxicity issues associated with agrochemicals, waterscarcity presents a fundamental obstacle that prevents sanitation practices (Ajayi 2000).
Pictograms as a Risk Communication Mechanism
Studies have shown that pictograms on pesticide labels are not as effective as they
should be. The United Nations Food and Agricultural Organisation recommended
pictograms as a method to communicate environmental and toxicological risks associated
with agrochemicals (Rother 2008). Pictograms represent instructions on the way
agrochemicals should be used, stored and disposed of. If the pictograms do not
communicate the idea clearly enough, then they are not working. A survey conducted on
grape farms in the Western Cape Province of South Africa of 115 farm workers found
that more than 50% of them had misleading, incorrect and confused interpretations of the
pictograms provided to them on the labels of the agrochemicals that they were using
(Rother 2008).
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This information simply shows that the dangers of pesticides are not being fully
communicated or understood in countries like South Africa. There is a clear need for the
issue to be communicated more clearly, especially when the heavy use of pesticides is so
enthusiastically encouraged within the South African agricultural sector (Rother et al.
2008). It is an example of how farm workers are not being provided with knowledge, and
access to equipment that would prevent occupational hazards. Furthermore, it shows that
intensive agricultural technology is not easily transferrable to developing countries,
because of factors like the lack of access to clean water, the lack of access to
supplementary safety equipment, and the lack of training and education. South Africa’s
agricultural sector is becoming dependent on agrochemicals, a relatively new technology
that it does not have the resources to support. The consequences include harmful side
effects for agricultural labourers, and the subsequent marginalization of this population.
Gender Differences and the Sexual Division of Labour in the South African
Agricultural Sector.
In order to explore the gender differences that impact farm workers in South
Africa, it is necessary to illustrate the importance of gender roles, even in the agricultural
sector. The majority of female farm workers are black, between the ages of 20 and 40 and
married. In terms of levels of education, 47% of female farmers have seven years of
schooling in total. 21% have four years or less, and 10% have had no education at all.
Poverty, or circumstances caused by poverty, is the prevailing reason for the lack of
education (Kritzinger and Vorster 1996). Women, with lower levels of education, and a
25
lower financial income than their male counterparts are even less likely to have the
training and knowledge to use pesticides safely (Naidoo et al. 2008).
Traditionally, the work of the rural female farmer was focused on cultivation,
weeding, harvesting, processing and the storage of crops. Furthermore, they are in charge
of getting clean water; this often requires walking long distances. They need to find
firewood, and they are also involved in the preparation and marketing of food (Lado
1992). In the agricultural setting today, women's activities include plowing, planting,
weeding, irrigation, and the harvesting of crops; in addition to these duties, they are
increasingly involved with the spraying of crops (Naidoo et al. 2011). Female farmers
have been taking on more responsibilities in the farm setting that, in the past, were
traditionally part of the ‘man's role’ (Naidoo et al. 2008). Furthermore, the commercial
farming industry in South Africa is becoming one of the biggest employers of women
throughout South Africa. Because of gendered job-segregation, and the inequity of
employee and occupational rights, women are given more casual, seasonal and informal
employment. As a result, women are generally not provided access to unions, and large
agribusinesses can avoid regulatory enforcement and not provide these women access to
pesticide safety programs, and other measures to prevent the adverse health effects of the
misuse of pesticides (London 2001). A study conducted in 1996 researched women
working on deciduous fruit farms in South Africa showed that 82% of the female farm
workers had not been offered any access to professional safety training (Kritzinger and
Vorster 1996).
Labour forces in South Africa are very transitory, with men migrating to urban
centres and industrial areas to find higher paying employment. In the rural small-scale
26
farming context, the men leave their female counterparts to do most of the agricultural
work in the community, in addition to their domestic responsibilities. The evolving role
of women in the agricultural sector is putting them at a higher risk for unhealthy levels of
pesticide exposure (Naidoo et al. 2008).
At the end of the apartheid era and during the transition period afterwards, the
government has tried to reform the agricultural sector to encourage equality between,
most importantly, black and white farmers. Critics have suggested, however, that the
government is so completely focused on the economic growth of the country that they are
not reforming laws to lessen inequality, but they are simply re-writing power relations,
gender inequalities, and racial inequalities to complement and drive the new
commercialized industry, despite the fact that marginalized people may still be suffering
(Orton et al. 2001). The marginalization of certain groups of people in South Africa,
notably female farmers and low-income farmers in general, is important to understand
because these are the people who are most negatively impacted by the occupational
hazards of pesticide poisoning.
Compared to South African men in the agricultural industry, female South
African farmers have lower literacy levels and lower incomes. Evidently, this impacts
their ability to read labels on pesticide containers, which is integral to the safe use of
these chemicals (Naidoo et al. 2008). Taking into consideration their extensive domestic
responsibilities, women work longer hours than men in agricultural settings (Lado 1992).
These facts put female farmers at a higher risk for adverse occupational health outcomes.
Since the dismantlement of apartheid in 1994, the government has attempted to redistribute farmland to the historically disadvantaged people of South Africa. Women
27
make up a significant portion of this population, as apartheid dictated that women could
not own land. These developments paired with a migration of men to urban and industrial
areas, left women to work on a significant amount of farmland in the rural areas of South
Africa (Naidoo et al. 2008).
Furthermore, research has found that women with a secondary school education
are much less likely to work on a farm. They usually migrate to urban areas to find steady
work. Thus, poorly educated women are concentrated within agricultural communities
(Naidoo et al. 2008). As mentioned above, low education and low literacy rates put
women at a higher risk for the occupational hazard of pesticide exposures. This research
simply illustrates the need, not only for standardized and enforced regulations concerning
agrochemical use, but the provision of basic training to every employee, no matter how
under-educated they might be (Ecobichon 2001).
Women who work on these farms are exposed to agrochemicals in many different
ways. Their levels of exposure depend on their knowledge of safety measures, their use
of hygienic practices and their use of personal protective wear. Even if there are males
working on the farm, women are required to wash the clothes that the man has worn
while spraying. This situation puts women at a high risk for exposure. If they are taking
the appropriate preventative measures, they may be exposed to dangerous levels of
agrochemicals (Naidoo et al. 2010).
In 2008, a survey was conducted on women working on the Makhatini Flats in
Nothern KwaZulu-Natal (Naidoo et al. 2008). This study was looking at the agricultural
activities and occupational hazards facing female South African farmers living and
working in poor, rural areas. The study found that almost half of the women who took
28
part in the survey had never attended school. The survey also found that only 30.6% of
the women who regularly worked with agrochemicals knew the name of the pesticide that
they were working with (Naidoo et al. 2008). It is significant to note that if the women
owned the farm themselves, they were more likely to have a higher knowledge of the
different types of agrochemicals. This pattern could signify that women in leadership
positions are more educated and have higher literacy levels. However, this situation
implies that if the women were working on farms that they did not own, they were not
provided with the knowledge that they needed to identify different types of
agrochemicals. They did not have the knowledge required to keep themselves safe from
the adverse health impacts of pesticide exposure. The results of this survey demonstrated
that women were being marginalized and taken advantage of by their employers. The
majority of these women were found to be using highly hazardous agrochemicals and had
no knowledge of the dangers involved (Naidoo et al. 2008).
Female farmers are susceptible to the negative health impacts of pesticides for
many reasons. They are prone to the acute effects of toxic pesticide exposures, including
reproductive health impacts. A study conducted in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa, found
that women were more likely to suffer from spontaneous miscarriage if they had been
spraying pesticides during their pregnancy. This connection was found to be a result of
post-conception exposure to specific agrochemicals: glyphosate and thiocarbamates,
specifically (Naidoo et al. 2011). However, some of the women who were participants of
the study did not know exactly which pesticides they were using. Situations like this
result in increased difficulty in making direct scientific linkages between these
agrochemicals and their adverse health effects. This research does, however, demonstrate
29
the need for more research on the topic of the relationship between pesticide exposure
and reproductive health impacts (Naidoo et al. 2011).
Naidoo et al. noted that there is, in fact, a desperate need for more research to be
conducted on specifically female farmers involved in the South African agricultural
sector. Most research that is available is focused on men (Naidoo et al. 2008). This lack
of data means that the work that women contribute to the sector is marginally reflected in
statistics. Furthermore, the adverse health effects that women have been subject too
throughout the industry are poorly reflected in available data. According to one social
scientist, women are "statistically invisible to policy makers and planners" (Lado 1992).
There is a need to improve surveillance of pesticide poisonings, because the data
that is available now may lead to inappropriate policy decisions. It is also important for
this issue to be honestly portrayed through statistics, so that awareness can grow.
Statistics that are available in South Africa now, concerning pesticide poisonings, suggest
that occupational exposures are insignificant and that men are more affected than women
(London and Bailie 2001). Researchers found that not only is occupational pesticide
poisoning a significant problem in South Africa, but women are more prone to
occupational pesticide poisonings than men. Furthermore, the numbers of people who
were affected by pesticide poisonings was a severe underestimate (London and Bailie
2001). As a result, it is clear that the South African government should implement an
effective and accessible surveillance system, because the statistics available are not
representative of the real problem.
30
Reducing Agrochemical Poisoning: The Importance of Education
The South African government is using high input agriculture as its main
developmental tool. Increasing agricultural outputs is the fundamental goal, yet there is a
significant missing link: education (Ecobichon 2001). The solution to this problem may
lie in many different types of strategies and programs to improve the safety of pesticide
use. The introduction of these programs could reduce pesticide poisonings, reduce
contamination of water sources, and reduce ecosystem damage. Education programs and
strategies would encourage meticulous adherence to safety instructions, rather than the
excessive and unsafe use of agrochemicals (Ecobichon 2001).
The use of education programs has been attempted in other developing countries,
and the programs’ effectiveness was assessed. In a particular study in India, the
occupational hazards of pesticide use were deemed to be a problem because farmers were
often not very well educated in terms of the hygienic practices required for the safe use of
agrochemicals. It is also expensive to use safety equipment; therefore it is rarely used in
Indian agricultural communities. The goal of the education programs is to make using
personal protective wear, and following safety instructions, a practical and rational
option. Researchers implemented education programs in two villages in South India,
hoping to encourage the safe use of pesticides in rural agricultural communities (Sam et
al. 2007). In these two villages, before the implementation of the project, the occurrence
of occupational related poisoning was 33% before education programs were
implemented. Public education programs were found to increase the farmers' knowledge
of severe health consequences of the misuse of agrochemicals. They stressed the
31
importance of personal protective wear, and encouraged farmers to use low toxicity
pesticides, as opposed to high-toxicity pesticides. Participants were encouraged to read
labels on the containers before application. The program taught participants to create
awareness of this issue throughout the community. After the programs were finished, the
researchers assessed the success of the program through questionnaires. They found that
the program lead to a significant improvement of the system and awareness of
fundamental safety measures (Sam et al. 2007).
As well, researchers in Lebanon studied the effect of educational interventions on
the knowledge and adherence to safety measures when interacting with pesticides in the
Lebanese agricultural sector. They found that the use of precautionary measures was
directly proportional to their knowledge. Essentially, when there was less knowledge,
fewer safety measures were applied (Salameh et al. 2004). Indeed, around the world,
researchers have found that the knowledge of pesticide safety measures is related to
gender, geography, literacy levels, and, in the case of female farmers, the presence
children (Sam et al. 2007).
Pesticide safety education (and education in general) is required to close these
gaps in safety knowledge. Education can also be used to reduce the inequality between
female and male farmers and between rural and urban populations. Education programs
and management strategies encapsulate a short-term solution to the reduction of the
adverse health effects caused by the misuse of pesticides. The long-term strategy,
however, is the restructuring of the South African agricultural system into a system that
does not depend on pesticides not only to increase agricultural yields, but also to boost
32
the economy (Mather 1996). The goal of this new agricultural system would be
sustainable development, with minimum pesticide input (Konradsen et al. 2003).
Sustainability in South African Agriculture – A Possibility?
The fact that South Africa is one of the largest importers of pesticides and other
agrochemicals on the continent calls into question the cost-benefit ratio of the heavy use
of chemicals in the agricultural sector. While pesticide use increases production rates and
agricultural yields, it presents risks to human health and social capital, not to mention
ecosystem health (Atreya et al. 2010). The agricultural sector does have an important role
to play in the development of the country, yet this can only work if sustainable practices
are implemented. Sustainability projects that have worked in South Africa's agricultural
sector have stressed the importance of focusing on community needs in the short-term as
well as the long-term. Additionally, the community needs to have confidence in the
project's long-term sustainability, or they will most likely abandon it. There is evidence,
however, that communities that implement sustainable management practices and
projects in agriculture become profitable and self-sustaining (Mulder et al. 2006).
However, these ideas for sustainable development are controversial, and there
remains a population of skeptics. Policy makers and representatives of agribusinesses, in
particular, do not believe that the methods available for ‘sustainable development’ will
produce the same amounts of agricultural yields that are produced today (Mather 1996).
Hopefully, however, this paper fully demonstrates the fact that an alternative is required
in this context. Heavy, unsustainable pesticide use is degrading social and environmental
33
capital and the negative side effects of the heavy use of pesticides do not justify the
economic returns of high yields (Atreya et al. 2010).
Alternative Agricultural Systems and Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
Conservation agriculture and organic agriculture are viable options in theory, yet
researchers have determined that they are difficult to implement in areas where poverty is
prevalent. Also, South Africa has an environment particularly vulnerable to drought and
other climatic limitations. Studies have shown that yields have dropped in organic
agriculture systems in South Africa (Nkala 2011). Biotechnology has, in some contexts,
helped to reduce agricultural yields, yet export limitations on genetically modified food
products do exist. Also, there is a worry that biotech crops will lead to the development
of resistant pests. In a specific case in South Africa, researchers found that a species of
African stem borer became resistant to insecticides after the introduction of genetically
modified maize (Atreya 2010). Consequently, there is a high demand for further research
within this field.
Researchers have suggested that Integrated Pest Management (IPM) might be a
suitable method to reduce unnecessary amounts of pesticide input into farming systems.
IPM alters the focus of pesticide use from “pest control” to “crop and eco-health.” It does
not emphasize the complete eradication of the pest, but encourages farmers to think about
the system in a holistic sense, one that might not benefit from heavy pesticide input. In
many instances, IPM not only reduces pesticide use, but contributes to higher agricultural
yields (Atreya et al. 2010). IPM focuses on the education and empowerment of the
34
farmer, and it also results in a less risky workplace for the farmer. It is also better for the
surrounding environment, as surrounding ecosystems are considered. IPM aims to
transform farmers’ perspectives of the farming system: from an agricultural system to an
‘agro-ecosystem.’ IPM success stories can be found in countries like Bangladesh,
Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam (Atreya et
al. 2010).
For example, a study of IPM practices in Indonesia saved an average of about $1
200 per year for each farm system on which it was implemented. These savings are
significant for low-income farmers. In India, there was a decreased use of conventional
pesticides by an average of 50%. Furthermore, incomes increased and so did agricultural
yields. IPM also has positive impacts on development, and this strategy could achieve
sustainable development though improved livelihoods, more cost-effective production,
collaboration between farmers, and improved education. Farmers can act on their own
initiative, and they can identify and resolve pest-related problems. IPM contributes to
empowerment throughout the agricultural community that can directly lead to sustainable
development (Atreya et al. 2010).
Conclusion
There is clear evidence that the misuse of agrochemicals in the South African
agricultural sector is putting agricultural workers at risk. Further data shows that, often,
female agricultural workers are at a higher risk than their male counterparts (London and
Bailie 2001). The agricultural yields to which pesticides contribute are a clear benefit, yet
35
these benefits do not justify the associated negative externalities. It is a social justice
problem because a population of marginalized people continues to be ignored and
mistreated by the system that is in place today (Artreya et al. 2010).
Low-income farm workers are shouldering the acute problem of food security,
and they are largely responsible for increasing food production in South Africa, which is
no small task (Ecobichon 2001). The government is encouraging the increase of
agricultural yields at any expense because it is determined to develop the country in a
post-apartheid era. The government wants an agricultural business capable of being
competitive on the global scale and views pesticides as the new technology that will
allow this to happen.
The evidence suggests that populations of Africa and other developing nations are
more prone to the negative health impacts of agrochemicals due to many reasons, such as
the lack of education, low literacy levels, and improper use or complete lack of personal
protective wear (Tomenson et al. 2009). Pesticide legislation is also severely lacking in
this context. In some situations farmers can only rely on the information provided to them
by the agribusinesses that sold them the chemicals in the first place. Clearly this causes
problems since there are no standardized methods of use of these agrochemicals, and the
provided information sways towards the idea of the necessity of pesticides, rather than
focusing strongly on the safety precautions that are necessary. This set of circumstances
calls for the need for government legislation and regulation regarding pesticide use,
stressing the safety factors involved (Ecobichon 2001). Instead of investing South
Africa’s future in agrochemicals, the government needs to invest in its lower class
farming communities. Their potential is being wasted when it could be geared towards
36
sustainable development in agricultural communities. This improvement of the system
would contribute not only to the sustainable development of the country, but also
improve food security issues by increasing agricultural yields (Atreya et al. 2010).
The issue of obsolete pesticides in South Africa remains a intractable problem that
is barely being dealt with by the government. The fact that obsolete pesticides are still
being stored in the country, and on some occasions, still being imported into the country,
represents a fundamental failure of the system (Dalvie et al 2009). Furthermore, the
capitalization of the country and the growth of the presence of unregulated agribusinesses
is also a cause for concern. Essentially, the power of these companies outweighs the
power of the government in the agricultural context, making it very dangerous for the
low-income farmer, who is more than likely to be marginalized in some way by large
agribusinesses (Bernstein 2013; Atreya et al. 2010). This situation simply re-iterates the
need for stringent governmental regulations and legislations regarding pesticide safety
throughout the country.
Additionally, the role of women in South Africa’s agricultural sector has been
changing. They are taking on more responsibility in the farming communities, and being
exposed to harmful levels of agrochemicals, affecting their health, and in some cases the
health of their children (Heeren et al. 2003). Studies have shown that they are a definitive
susceptible population when it comes to the harmful effects of over-exposure to
agrochemicals. This situation is thought to be a result of lower literacy rates within
populations of female farmers, lower levels of education and less access to basic social
rights. Gender inequality has no place in the plan to develop South Africa and boost its
economy. Women, female farmers specifically, are a source of social capital that cannot
37
be ignored. Given the right tools and educational resources, women can contribute
favourably to the economy, enhancing the country’s global status. The impacts of
pesticide exposure and poisoning can inhibit this source of social capital by contributing
to health care costs and the cycle of poverty within the population of rural poor (Atreya et
al. 2010). If this problem was prevented and mitigated, however, female farmers could be
invaluable in the attempt to develop the country. A socially equitable and sustainable
framework needs to be researched and implemented in these communities, because the
marginalization of female farm workers is a social justice issue (London 2001). Women
need access to education, to training programs and to occupational and employee rights.
Sustainable and equitable development is possible through the means of
education, legislation, government regulation and other major reconstructions of the
agricultural system. The paradigm shift that is necessary in the agricultural sector could
involve promising and sustainable options such as IPM systems. It is necessary to move
away from a system that is so dependent on pesticides as a means to an end, and grow
towards a system in which sustainable development is seen as the way forward.
38
Acknowledgements
I would like to thank my supervisor, Dr. Louise Winn, for all of her feedback and
support. I would also like to thank my secondary supervisor, Dr. Gary VanLoon, for his
input. Thank you so much!
39
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