Determination of Attitudes and Behaviors of Fruit Producers towards Pesticide Use in Gürsu and Kestel Districts of Bursa Province

In this study, which was made in Gürsu and Kestel districts of Bursa province in 2017, it was aimed to determine the attitudes and behaviors of the producers regarding the use of pesticides in fruit production. A survey study was conducted with 75 fruit producers, which were randomly selected from 9 neighborhoods belonging to these districts. In the survey study, producers were asked questions about personal information such as their age, educational status, land ownership, land size and agricultural crops grown, as well as pesticide use. According to the results of the study, it was determined that 75.1% of the producers obtained the pesticides from the pesticide dealers. Fungicides, insecticides, herbicides and acaricides were used by 67.9% of the producers, respectively. Of all producers, 71.6% and 66.3% followed the recommendations of pesticide dealers in pesticide selection and dosing, respectively. The producers were found to use the highest amount of fungicides (46.3%) against pear scab (Venturia pirina Aderh.). It was determined that the producers had applied 18.3 times pesticides on average against diseases and pests in pear during a growing season. Besides, 54.2% of the producers were observed to not to have knowledge about biopesticides. Those who did not use the protective products such as masks, gloves etc. in pesticide applications were recorded as 53.6%. However, 63.7% of the producers stated that the pesticides used harmed the environment. As a result of the study, the findings were evaluated and recommendations were made