Survey of Pesticide Use in Leaf and Fruit Vegetables, Fruits, and Rice Cultivation Areas in Korea

In order to investigate actual pesticide usage, this survey was carried out with farmers growing four crop groups, leaf vegetables, fruit vegetables, fruits, and rice from 2012 to 2015. Five hundred sixty farmers were selected in main crop production areas and were asked about their pesticide uses during the growing season. Investigations on pesticide damages to crop in recent 5 years showed that fruit vegetables had the highest proportion of damage at 14%, followed by rice at 11%, orchards at 11%, and leaf vegetables at 8%. Compared to the results of a pilot study which took place from 2009 to 2011, fruit vegetable damage increased by 4% while damage to rice and orchards decreased by 7-9%. This means continuous education on mixed spraying, usage methods, and precaution is required. In the survey on the safety guidelines for pesticide use, 6 items were well observed (89.0-95.0%), but one item for use of protective gear had the lowest observance (81.7%). A measure for protective gear for poisoning prevention is required. The survey of pesticide usage per area (kg a.i. ha −1 ) showed that 1.65, 4.93, 10.98, and 3.16 kg a.i. ha −1 of pesticides were applied to leaf vegetables (6 species), fruit vegetables (6 species), fruits (6 species), and rice, respectively, which decreased from the usage reported in the pilot study. This change was likely caused by more effective pesticides and fewer pest outbreaks; therefore, shipments of pesticides have been decreasing. In the case of paddy rice herbicides, 43 products, including butachlor, were used for 1.3 kg ha −1 . Herbicides represent 44% of pesticides used in paddy rice.