104 Agricultural Harm to the Environment
poisoning. For each form two values were therefore entered in the database as
severity indicators.
- severity class;
- total number of S&S reported (#S&S).
Data analysis
Linear trend analysis (frequencies analysis and chi-square test) was performed to
describe pairs of variables (men versus women and small versus large). The severity
class and the #S&S were analysed in relation to the exposure variables. Multivari-
ate analysis (multiple linear regression) was used to assess the contribution of each
independent variable (Age, Gender, Formal education, Exposure Time, Pesticide
Toxicity, Volume, Operation, Landholding, Income, Profession) to the severity
values. Further analysis on the combination of signs and symptoms per spraying
event will be performed on the complete data set at the end of the second season
collection.
Results
Characteristics of the respondents
The average ages of the reporting women and interviewed men was respectively
36.5 and 37 years. The distribution by age categories is given in Table 5.3. Almost
half of the respondents fell into the class ‘marginal’ (< 1ha) (Table 5.3). Forty-one
per cent of the farmers lived below the national poverty level (10 rupees a day or
1$ per 4–5 days).
Spraying operations
Individual spraying sessions recorded in four months of monitoring totalled 392.
On average, farmers filled out one form per month. However, 69 forms have been
Table 5.3 Distribution of respondents by ages and by landholding classesAge <30 30–39 40–50 >50
Women (n = 50) 18 15 17 0
Men (n = 47) 10 15 13 9
Land (ha) Marginal (<1) Small (1–2) Semimedium (2–4) Medium/Large (>4)
Women 22 11 12 5
Men 19 13 7 8