A Survey on the Use and Perception of Environmentally-friendly Organic Materials among Korean Farmers

This study was performed to investigate the cultivation pattern and perception, such as safety awareness, of environmentally-friendly organic materials among Korean farmers. The main reason for participation of the environmentally-friendly agriculture was for the production of safe agricultural crops. Compared to small-acreage farmer were more aware about the safety of environmentally-friendly organic materials to the subjects. Accordingly, 23.6% among the respondents with environmentally-friendly agriculture certification experienced the adverse effect by using the environmentally-friendly organic materials, compared to 33.8% of among the respondent without the certification. The experienced type of adverse effects consisted mainly 'eyes itch', 'hands and feet itch' and 'fatigue'. Also, respondent experiencing the adverse effects by using the environmentally-friendly organic materials more comply with the usage standard as how to use marked in wrapping paper, compared to the respondent without experiencing the adverse effects, which indicate that the compliance with the usage standard as how to use marked in wrapping paper is closely related the experience the adverse effects. Further study should be needed for more precise investigation of comment for the farmers in order to suggest the effective improvement in terms of policy or education for their safety.