مساهمة في دراسة استعمال المنتجات الصحة النباتية في ولاية الوادي

Abstract

This study aimed to contribute to the understanding of the current status of plant protection product use in El Oued Province, Algeria, through a field survey conducted on a sample of 110 farmers distributed across several agricultural areas of the province. A questionnaire was used to collect data concerning the farmers’ socio-professional characteristics, agricultural production systems, and practices related to the use of plant protection products. The results showed that the majority of farmers belonged to the economically active age group between 31 and 50 years, and that all respondents were male. The educational level of the farmers ranged from intermediate and secondary to higher education, with no illiteracy recorded among the surveyed population. The study also revealed that most agricultural holdings were of medium to large size, and that open-field cultivation was more widespread than greenhouse production systems. Furthermore, the findings indicated that potato was the most widely cultivated crop in the study area, followed by tomato and watermelon. Regarding the use of plant protection products, more than half of the farmers reported using them regularly to protect their crops against agricultural pests and diseases. Insecticides were the most frequently used category, followed by fungicides and herbicides. The study also showed that liquid pesticide formulations were preferred over other formulations and that most farmers carried out spraying operations during the evening period, as it provides favorable conditions for improving treatment efficiency and reducing pesticide losses. These findings highlight the significant role of plant protection products in agricultural systems in El Oued Province. They also emphasize the need to strengthen agricultural training and extension programs in order to promote the rational use of these products, ensure the protection of human health and the environment, and achieve sustainable agricultural production.