ABSTRACT
It is unfortunate that training in pesticide use has traditionally been neglected by the UWI, agricultural schools, and Ministries of Agriculture of the Commonwealth Caribbean. Users have little appreciation of the occupational and environmental hazards of pesticides. Most receive training from their peers, which perpetuates the misuse and abuse of pesticides. Very few farmers can read or understand the manufacturer’s instructions, which are usually printed in fine print. Even most extension and training officers have little knowledge of the three ‘W’s (why?, what?, and when?) and three ‘H’s (how much?, how?, and how often?) of pesticide use. Occasionally the UWI, CARDI, and the Caribbean Conservation Association (CCA) hold training programs on pesticide application for a few farmers, depending upon availability of international funding.
