Bayer Crop Science Philippines said Friday it will pilot a project to safeguard the well-being of farmers as they go about their crop protection routines by introducing the use of personal protective equipment while at work.
The company said Filipino farmers were not usually wearing PPE when applying pesticides and germicides to crops, making them vulnerable to chemicals and to the diseases associated with them.
The project offers the use of a safety kit. It will pilot in vegetable-producing municipalities of Buguias and La Trinidad in Benguet and the rice areas of Bayambang, Pangasinan, and Concepcion, Tarlac. The kit will include 2 filter face masks, a pair of nitrile gloves,= and goggles.
Based on a survey conducted by Bayer, only 6 of 10 farmers wear a face mask when preparing and applying crop protection products. Most of the farmers use the surgical mask type, which is not recommended as it does not offer full protection from the potential inhalation of the product.
