Does better cotton initiative contribute to health cost reduction in pesticide applicators? Evidence from Pakistan

Cotton production involves intensive pesticide application that poses serious health hazards to pesticides applicators. Better cotton production is introduced by better cotton initiative with the aim to make cotton production better for the people who produce it, preserve the environment it grows and provide better future for the cotton sector. However, data on the impact of better cotton initiative on health hazards of pesticide application do not exist. Therefore, the present study was designed to examine the pesticide exposure and health cost of pesticide applicators in better cotton and conventional cotton production in Punjab, Pakistan. The study was conducted in three districts including Toba Tek Singh, Bahawalnagar and Layyah. A sample of 450 pesticide applicators comprising of 225 from better cotton and 225 from conventional cotton was selected randomly from the list provided by Lok Sanjh Foundation. Multiple regression analysis was used to estimate factors affecting the health cost of pesticide applicators. In better cotton, pesticide applicators were found to be exposed less to pesticides and faced less health cost than conventional cotton applicators. Adoption of better cotton, education, experience, adoption of precautionary measures and links with extension services were associated with reduced health cost, while duration of work was associated with high health cost of pesticide applicators. Findings of the study will be helpful in devising strategies to lower the health effects of pesticides and promote better cotton as a cleaner technology of cotton production in Pakistan.