Factors influencing farmer’s perceptions and behavior toward pesticide use in Malaysia
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the factors believed to influence the behavior of 1,042 rice farmers in Malaysia regarding the overuse of pesticides. Frequent overuse of pesticide will have an impact on human health and the environment, which lead to greater expenditure on health care.
Design/methodology/approach
The theoretical models of compliance behavior tested include the basic deterrence model, which focuses on the enforcement of regulation as a key determinant of compliance. The models integrate economic theory with theories of social behavior to account for motivations expected, influencing individuals’ decisions on whether to follow the regulation on using pesticides.
Findings
Significance tests reported that the information regarding the danger of using pesticides, the perception toward the impact on the environment and the expected impact on health influences the compliance behavior of using pesticides.
Research limitations/implications
These findings highlight the necessity for the policy makers to design an effective program which gives more information and provide training related to the risk and the safe handling of pesticides.
Practical implications
The farmers who receive information and training related to handling of pesticides become more cautious in the use of pesticides. Countries involved in agriculture and the use of pesticides widely by their farmers need to emphasize continuous training and periodic information dissemination.
Social implications
The implication drawn is rice farmers should be encouraged to practice new methods in rice planting, especially in the integrated pest management method.
Originality/value
These research findings suggest that the overuse of pesticides in the rice farming continues to be an important problem.
Keywords
Citation
Ali, J., Yusof, N. and Abd. Aziz, F.S. (2018), "Factors influencing farmer’s perceptions and behavior toward pesticide use in Malaysia", International Journal of Social Economics, Vol. 45 No. 5, pp. 776-792. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSE-11-2016-0304
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited