Year: 2022
Type: article
Abstract: Current situationIn developing countries, the agricultural sector is the main provider of employment for the majority of the population (1).In Burkina Faso, this sector occupies 75% of the working population who live mostly in rural areas (2).Burkina Faso is a landlocked country located in the heart of West Africa with an estimated population of about 20 and a half million (3), according to the 2019 population census.The major types of agriculture are crop production, animal husbandry, and exploitation of non-timber forest products (NTFPs).Crop production is dominated by sorghum, millet, corn and rice, the main food crops, and cotton, which is the main cash crop.Most farms are family-based, small, and located in rural areas, utilizing numerous child workers daily.These farmers practice subsistence agriculture in a context where the rural area contributes the most to poverty in the country at 91.8% (2).According to data from the 2006 National Child Labor Survey (4), 41.1% of children aged 5 to 17 are economically active in Burkina Faso.Of these, 95.8% are in child labor, with the agricultural sector being one of the most affected sectors at 69.2%.Regardless of the type of agricultural work, it involves several tasks that expose children to numerous risks.These risks are related to climatic conditions; the seasonal and physical nature of the activity; contact with animals and plants (bites, poisoning, infections, parasites, allergies, and intoxications); to exposure to chemical products.Unsafe pesticide use is a major problem in the agricultural sector in Burkina Faso (5), leading to illness or death.In September 2019, 18 people (13 from the same family) died from pesticide-related illness, while in 2016, a study revealed that 341 in three regions of Burkina Faso suffered from pesticide-related illnesses.The legal framework for pesticide use exists but the law is not enforced.
Source: Frontiers in Public Health
Institutions: University of Koudougou, Université Thomas SANKARA
Language: English
Topic: Agriculture and Farm Safety
Subfield: Plant Science
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,950
OpenAlex ID: W4293539902