Abstract

The aim of this study is to determine farmers’ tendency towards pesticide usage, its relationship with environment and the quantity and value of pesticide usage in potato production in Pasinler district of Erzurum Province in Turkey. Erzurum, particularly Pasinler district, has an important place in potato production. 95 potato producing farms in 9 villages were selected to represent the farms in the district. The villages were selected by using intentional sampling, while the farms in the villages were selected through simple random sampling covering 2004 production season. Interviews were conducted with 3 pesticide sellers and cooperative workers, as well. It has been concluded that, 11.58% of the producers indicated that the pesticide residues could be totally eliminated with washing the product. 45.26% indicated that chemical drugs don’t leave residues. 48.42% of the farmers indicated that they throw away the insecticide packages without any care after applying the chemical. 29.47% disposed the packages by burning. 16.84% disposed them by burying them in the ground while 5.27% used garbage can for disposing the packages.

Key words: Pasinler district, Erzurum province, potato, agricultural pesticide.