| This study aimed to describe agricultural developments in The Gambia and the health and safety hazards of agricultural practice. Gambian agriculture is in transition. Farming is primarily performed with draught animal traction with the sine hoe, but many farm tasks are unmechanised making farming labor intensive. Hand tools such as the cutlass, axe and hand hoe are used to do farm work. Farmers also lift and carry heavy farm materials manually and physically. Consequently musculo-skeletal conditions in the form of chronic neck and back pains occur among farmers but remain unrecognized as occupation related.; This study found out that virtually all the farming methods and equipment are with inherent risks. High rates of injuries in the forms of cuts and lacerations emanating from hand tools, human error and animal powered carts occur among farmers. Other hazards and contributing factors identified to be adversely affecting the health and safety of farmers include smoke and dusts, temperature extremes, awkward and cramped posture, insect bites and stings and chopping trees or wood with hand tools.; This study also discovered very low rates of literacy prevailing among the farmers. The farmers training on pesticide safety is inadequate and their awareness of pesticide toxicity deficient. Farmers do not use personal protective equipment for farm work and agrichemicals including pesticides. The monitoring of pesticides and other hazardous chemicals in the country are constrained by manpower and logistics. Resultantly, the indiscriminate use and sale of hazardous, unregistered, unlabeled and obsolete agrichemicals in the country remain uncontrolled.; Results of this study are envisaged for use in the formulation of an agricultural health and safety policy for the country. |
