English abstract
A preliminary survey of pesticide use on farms in Northern Oman was carried out. Nineteen farms covering a total area of 100 hectares were surveyed. All of the farms surveyed were under a mixture of cereal, fruit, vegetable and tree crops. The results of the survey showed that pest problems dominated over those associated with pathogenic organisms or weeds. The favored method for pest control on farms was a pesticide application. Only one of the nineteen farms surveyed did not use pesticides to control their pest problems. Insecticides were used on 95% of the farms surveyed, fungicides on 60%, and herbicides on 20%. One of the farms surveyed used a biorational bacterial pesticide formulation to control crop pests. All farms used high pressure hydraulic equipment to apply pesticides. Workers employed to apply pesticides used only rudimentary safety equipment. The results, which are consistent with global patterns of pesticide use in developing countries, are discussed in relation to agricultural development in Oman.
