Identification of Factors Affecting Decisions to Adopt Pesticides at Lowland Rice Farms in Indonesia

Abstract

Pesticides have been widely adopted in the farming industry to control weeds, pests, and diseases in order to minimize yield losses and maintain the quality of lowland rice products; however, farmers often over-apply pesticides. This study analyzed key factors that affected the decision of lowland rice farmers in adopting pesticides and the frequency of pesticide application. A double-hurdle model was used to estimate the factors that affected the decisions of farmers to adopt pesticides and determine the frequency of pesticide application. These results demonstrate that the adoption of pesticides was high (86%) at lowland rice farms in the study area. Lowland rice farmers were found to apply pesticides an average of eight times. Gender, age, education level, access to extension, farming experience, and access to credit significantly affected the decisions of farmers to adopt pesticides in controlling weeds, pests, and diseases at lowland rice farms. The independent variable also significantly affected the frequency of pesticide application. Towards the goal, government and non-government organizations had to increase human resources through education, agricultural extension services to young farmers had to be improved. Specifically, extension material was provided on environmentally-friendly methods of controlling weeds, pests, and diseases and other alternatives to reduce the use of pesticides at lowland rice farms.