preprint · Preprints.org
Women play an increasingly prominent role in horticulture across Africa, carrying out physically demanding tasks on family and commercial farms where pesticides are applied to boost yields. In northern Tanzania, a qualitative study evaluated pesticide exposure risks, awareness levels, and gender roles among 50 female agricultural workers across four villages. The findings revealed six central themes: division of labour, training, health effects, storage and disposal, protective measures, and resilience. Although men typically handle spraying, poorer and unmarried women also take on this role. Participants demonstrated limited access to formal safety training and rarely used protective equipment. Even when aware of potential health risks, women continued to face exposure due to economic hardship and traditional gender expectations, pointing to a critical need for targeted, gender-sensitive interventions.
Women provide essential labour in African horticulture but remain disproportionately vulnerable to chemical hazards. Understanding how social norms and poverty shape chemical exposure enables public health agencies and agricultural organisations to design targeted training and safety programmes. Addressing these gender-specific risks is essential for improving farm safety and protecting the long-term health of rural agricultural workers.
The findings highlight an opportunity for agricultural suppliers, training providers, and occupational safety developers to design accessible, gender-sensitive protective equipment and targeted safety training programmes for smallholder environments. This research is early-stage, applied observational work that identifies user needs and practices rather than developing a commercial product directly.
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Over the past few decades, women's participation in horticulture has become increasingly apparent across Africa. Women perform physically demanding agricultural work—on family farms, as hired laborers, or as paid workers on other farms. To increase yield and protect crops, pesticides are used, yet the health risks faced by these women remain under-researched. This study aimed to explore pesticide exposure risks, gender roles, and awareness among women working on horticultural farms in northern Tanzania. A qualitative exploratory case study was conducted in 2023, in four villages, with four focus group discussions. Data were transcribed and thematically analyzed. Fifty women participated, with mean age 39 years and mean work experience 10 years, 70% were married and 80% had primary education. Six themes emerged: gendered division of labour, training and awareness, health effects, storage and disposal practices, protective measures, and resilience. Pesticide spraying was typically performed by men, although poor or unmarried women also undertook this task. Women had limited access to training on safe pesticide handling, and protective gear was rarely used. Despite awareness of potential health risks, economic necessity and prevailing gender norms compelled them to continue work where pesticide exposure occurred. Gender-sensitive interventions are urgently needed to address these issues.
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DOI: 10.20944/preprints202508.2063.v1
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