Analyse qualitative du risque de contamination des maraîchers par les produits phytosanitaires à Korhogo, Côte d'Ivoire

Qualitative analysis of the risk of market gardeners being contaminated by phytosanitary products in Korhogo, Cote d'Ivoire In a context of food insecurity accentuated by climate change, urban market gardening is emerging as an alternative. However, market gardeners' abuse of phytosanitary products and poor agricultural practices may be endangering both their health and that of consumers. The objective of this study is to qualitatively assess the risks of market gardeners being contami-nated with unregistered phytosanitary products in the city of Korhogo, Cote d'Ivoire. The data were collected by means of a social and health survey of market gardeners, semi -di-rective interviews with several actors including administrative authorities, non-governmental organisations, market gardeners, sellers of phytosanitary products, and product applicators. Two focus group discussions with the market gardeners' groups and one direct observation were conducted to compare the results obtained during the interviews. A geographic survey was used to locate market gardening sites and to count the number of market gardeners based on the number of plots developed during the survey. Workshops were held to present, discuss and validate the results with stakeholders. Meetings between experts were held to evaluate the different risk factors and the overall risk of contamination by unregistered plant protection products. Unapproved phytosanitary products constitute the identified risk. The results show that the risk of market gardeners being contaminated by unregistered phytosanitary products used in the market garden site around the Korhogo drinking water dam is high. Of the 150 market gardeners surveyed, 81 % use phytosanitary products. There are weaknesses in the control and monitoring system for the sale of these products, which is beneficial to contraband sellers. There is therefore a high probability that unregistered phytosanitary products are being intro-duced into the market gardening site. The high rate of lack of education (86 %) and training among market gardeners, as well as the lack of protection when products are being applied, leads to a high probability that market gardeners are being exposed to these products. The clear possibility thus emerges that the use of phytosanitary products has sanitary and econo-mic consequences on market gardeners.