'Pesticide exposure in emerging farmers' is a cohort study involving 319 farmers from the Western Cape of South Africa recruited to explore pesticide exposure's effects on neurobehavioral performance. Participants were recruited from farms in three districts—Cape Winelands, West Coast, and Overberg—between December 2008 and May 2010, with a selection based on their involvement in pesticide use on farms. The cohort was comprised of predominantly small-scale black farmers, many of whom were economically disadvantaged and had low literacy levels, with high alcohol consumption prevalent in the group. No seasonal workers or hired labourers were included. The study followed up with the cohort at four intervals: a baseline study, three quarterly visits (F1, F2, F3), and a final 12-month follow-up (F4).