Finding Significant Determinants and Impacts of Farm-Level Integrated Pest Management Practices Using Statistical Tools

Abstract

The study aims to identify the determinants of adoption of integrated pest management (IPM) and its impacts on productivity and pesticide applications. The study employed two-part poisson hurdle regression, propensity score matching (PSM), and inverse probability weighted regression adjustment (IPWRA) techniques to achieve the objectives. The findings indicated that level of IPM adoption was low. Around 15% and 10% of the respondents adopted poultry refuse and sex pheromone trap, respectively while about 11% adopted both the practices. Decision to adopt significantly influenced by training (p < 0.01), neighbour farmers adoption (p < 0.01) and distance from highway (p < 0.05) while extent of adoption depend on extension contact (p < 0.05) and neighbour farmers adoption (p < 0.05). Adoption of IPM significantly reduced pesticide applications and increased productivity compared to non-adopters based on kernel and radius matching. Adoption analysis suggested that more research and field demonstrations are required to improve the adoption level. Reduced pesticide applications may have some environmental benefits. Due to higher productivity, there is scope to boost the role of IPM in anti-poverty policies in Bangladesh.