Abstract
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.
DOI
10.1080/09670874.2016.1147621
Publication Date
2016-02-29
Publication Title
International Journal of Pest Management
Volume
62
Issue
2
Publisher
Informa UK Limited
ISSN
1366-5863
Embargo Period
2024-11-25
First Page
149
Last Page
157
Recommended Citation
Rahman, S. (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. Informa UK Limited: Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/09670874.2016.1147621
Comments
peerreview_statement: The publishing and review policy for this title is described in its Aims & Scope. aims_and_scope_url: http://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?show=aimsScope&journalCode=ttpm20