Examining and understanding the role of social inequalities in pesticide poisoning within smallholder cotton farming systems

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Cotton is particularly vulnerable to pest attacks. Globally, thiscrop covers just 2.4% of the world's cultivated land but uses12 / 166% of the world's pesticides, more than any other singlemajor crop [1]. Thousands of cotton farmers and theirfamilies are exposed to pesticides on a daily basis and sufferfrom pesticide poisoning, a major global killer every year [2].Nearly 1,000 people die every day from acute pesticidepoisoning and many more suffer from chronic ill health, suchas cancers like leukaemia, neurological diseases andreproductive problems including infertility, miscarriage andbirth defects [3].In Tanzania, there are around half a million smallholdercotton farmers, and approximately 40% of the entire countrypopulation depends on their yields [4]. Pesticides are widelyused by cotton farmers in the country, with very limitedawareness about the need of use of protective clothing andpoor storage practices [5]. It is however, difficult to estimatethe burden of pesticide poisoning, mainly due tounderreporting [6].Scattered evidence suggests that younger people, women,and ethnic minorities might be disproportionally affected bypesticide exposure [7,8] and education level may beassociated with pesticide poisoning [9]; however, there is nodata on social inequalities and environmental injusticeassociated to pesticide poisoning in cotton farmers andfamilies in Tanzania.Evidence shows that successful alternatives to conventionalpesticides exist by replacing chemicals with biology usingecosystem-based approaches to pest and cropmanagement (agro-ecology) [10]. Due to the lack of largescale, rigorous surveillance data and understanding of socialbarriers, there is reluctance amongst farmers and policymakers to adopt these safer and sustainable alternatives[11].The proposed research endeavours to address thisfundamental gap utilising the large dataset, generatedthrough the use of a digital app providing a standardiseddata collection system. This dataset will enable the analysisof the role of social inequalities in pesticide poisoningamongst smallholder cotton farming systems. This will becoupled with an analysis of the barriers the farmersencounter to switch to more sustainable cotton production,that can protect the livelihoods, health and environment ofmillions of rural families. Finally, a stakeholder analysis willinvestigate the cost versus benefit attitudes of policy makersand relevant stakeholders on the decision-making process ofsupporting agro-ecology within the country.To unfold this complex issue, an 'ecohealth' framework, anecosystem approach to the examination of theenvironmental, and socioeconomic factors in relation tohealth will be employed using its principles ofinterdisciplinarity, multi-stakeholder participation system13 / 16analysis and gender and social equity [12].