Farmers’ willingness to use lower risk pesticides for pest control: Barriers and facilitators in northern Greece

Abstract

Understanding farmers’ preferences and behaviors in pesticide handling is essential for promoting sustainable chemical pest management practices that protect both the health of farmers and the ecosystem. The aim of this work was to fill the knowledge gap in farmers’ behaviors when using pesticides by addressing whether farmers would prefer to use lower risk pesticides for the management of the most common pests in their crops. Data were gathered with face-to-face interviews from a farmers’ survey in northern Greece. Almost three quarters (76%) of the farmers noted that they would prefer to use all available pesticides for the management of the most common pests of their crops, while only 24% stated they would prefer to use lower risk pesticides. Elderly and large-scale farmers were not willing to use lower risk pesticides. By contrast, educated farmers and those who applied pesticides more frequently (high number of applications) were found more willing to use lower risk pesticides. Finally, the probability of using lower risk pesticides increased significantly in trained farmers, in farmers with high perception of risk, and in farmers who cared to be informed about pesticides. Logistic regression indicated that previous training on pesticide handling, high perception of pesticide hazard, and upper secondary education positively influenced (P < 0.05) farmers’ willingness to use lower risk pesticides on their farms. On the contrary, age, primary education, and number of pesticide applications in a season (less than 3) showed a negative relationship (P < 0.05) with farmers’ willingness to use lower risk pesticides on their farms. Training in the correct use of pesticides is a basic pillar of safety in pesticide use and can improve farmers’ willingness to use lower risk pesticides.

Keywords

• Pesticide selection
• Pesticide toxicity
• Preferences
• Logistic model