Jointness in farmers' decision to apply pesticides in multiple crops and its determinants at the farm level in Bangladesh

Rahman, S. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0391-6191 (2016) Jointness in farmers' decision to apply pesticides in multiple crops and its determinants at the farm level in Bangladesh. International Journal of Pest Management, 62 (2). pp. 149-157. ISSN 0967-0874 doi: 10.1080/09670874.2016.1147621

Abstract/Summary

Decision about pesticide application for pest control is an issue of major concern, but research on factors affecting decision-making is limited. This study investigates jointness in farmers' decision to apply pesticides in multiple crops and socio-economic determinants of pesticide use across crops using a survey of 2083 farms from 17 districts in Bangladesh applying a multivariate Tobit model. Overall, 75.4% and 12.7% of the farmers applied pesticides in one and two crops, respectively. The decision to apply pesticides in multiple crops was found to be negatively correlated, providing evidence of jointness. Also, individual socio-economic factors exerted variable influences on pesticide use in different crops. Output price significantly increases pesticide use whereas the influence of fertilizer price and labour wage is varied. Educated farmers use significantly more pesticides in rice and oilseed. Marginal and small farmers use significantly less pesticides in wheat/maize and pulse. Policy implications include price policies to reduce fertilizer prices and engaging agricultural extension agencies and non-governmental organizations to disseminate information on specific crop combinations which will synergistically reduce pesticide use.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/105874
Identification Number/DOI	10.1080/09670874.2016.1147621
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	No Reading authors. Back catalogue items Life Sciences > School of Agriculture, Policy and Development > Department of Agri-Food Economics & Marketing
Publisher	Taylor & Francis
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