This study examined the determinants of compliance with safety measures during herbicide application among farmers in the Zuru Agricultural Zone, Kebbi State, Nigeria. Through a multistage sampling procedure, a total of 120 participants were selected. Data analysis was conducted using descriptive statistics in conjunction with binary logistic regression. The respondents’ socioeconomic characteristics indicated that most were in the economically active age range, with 53.3% aged 31 to 35 years and an average age of 43 years. All respondents (100%) were male, and 83.3% were married. The farmers exhibited a generally low level of education, as merely 60.0% had completed primary education, and 48.0% had received no formal education whatsoever. The typical household was large, averaging 7 members. While all respondents (100%) belonged to a farmers’ association, their average farming experience stood at 15 years. Institutional support proved to be quite minimal, with just 6.0% of farmers having access to any kind of extension assistance and credit facilities. Nevertheless, the binary logistic regression analysis showed that the model was statistically significant (R² = 0.68; F = 23.45, p < 0.01) and possessed strong predictive capability. The factors predicting farmers’ compliance with safety precaution practices comprised level of education (β = 0.113, p < 0.01), farm size (β = 0.087, p < 0.05), access to extension services (β = 0.962, p < 0.01), training on herbicide use (β = 1.134, p < 0.01), knowledge of hazards (β = 0.721, p < 0.01), availability of personal protective equipment (PPE) (β = 0.843, p < 0.01), and risk perception (β = 0.506, p < 0.05). Training on herbicide use exerted the greatest effect on farmers’ compliance with safety precaution practices, raising the odds of farmers following safety precautions by more than threefold (OR = 3.11). Conversely, age (β = -0.032, p < 0.05), household size (β = -0.058, p < 0.10), and cost of PPE (β = -0.615, p < 0.05) were the factors that diminished the likelihood of adhering to safety precaution practices during herbicide application. The study concludes that compliance with herbicide safety precautions arises from a combination of socioeconomic, institutional, and knowledge-related factors, with extension access, training, and PPE availability serving as critical elements. It is recommended that extension services be strengthened, routine training programmes be established, and subsidized PPE be provided in order to enhance safe herbicide practices among crop farmers.

Keywords: Herbicide application, Safety precautions, Adherence, Zuru Agricultural Zone.