Risky rice : Rice farmers’ perceived risk and risk awareness and how it affects the handling of pesticides in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam

Abstract: Agrichemicals have been misused by rice farmers in Vietnam for a long time. This thesis has studied the rice farmers’ knowledge, risk awareness and risk perception to get an understanding of the rice farmers’ agrichemical management. 15 rice farmers in An Giang province in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam were interviewed in 2015 when the winter-spring rice was cultivated. Field method Contextual Inquiry was used to observe and interview the rice farmers. The rice farmers in Mekong Delta, Vietnam think that they are exposed to a medium risk when handling pesticides. They think that pesticides are the most effective pest controlling method. They do not use any protective gear because the weather is to hot which makes the protective gear uncomfortable to wear, even though the majority of the farmers have experienced health effects. The farmers overuse agrichemicals. The rice farmers can increase their gross income if they start using agrichemical more responsible. The majority of the farmers do not follow recommendations established in research. The Vietnamese government have a big responsibility to implement new laws to create a healthier and more environmentally sound agriculture.