Socio-economic correlates of pesticide usage: the case of
citrus farmers
Ghulam Yasin, Muhammad Aslam, Ijaz Parvez and Safina Naz
University College of Agriculture, Bahauddin Zakariya
University, Multan 60800, Pakistan,
Abstract: The socio-economic factors affecting
adoption of pesticides on citrus trees in Sargodha Division,
Pakistan was studied. Six villages were selected (three from
each sub division) for data collection. Overall 150 orchard
owners (25 from each sample village) were interviewed. Data
were analyzed using SPSS programme. Gamma test and
chi-square were used to check the direction and magnitude of
relationship between independent and dependent variables.
Among the sample, 48% respondents were spray users. The
socio-economic factors that influenced farmer’s receptivity
to citrus spray were age (negatively correlated), education
(positively correlated), social status (positively
correlated), farm size (negatively correlated) and farming
experience (negatively correlated). By incurring Rs. 3,600/=
per ha on spray farmers received Rs. 19,000/= as an
incremental benefit. Marginal rate of return indicated that
by spending Re. 1.00 on spray farmers would get an increase
of Rs. 5.27 in their income.
Keywords: adoption, citrus, pesticide, socio-economic
correlates.
INTRODUCTION
Citrus, among various fruits grown in Pakistan, is
considered to be the most important for better economic
earning and its dietetic value. The importance of citrus has
generally been recognized throughout the world. Citrus has
generally been a source of foreign exchange earning and its
domestic need is also growing in the country. As a result of
its importance more area is brought under cultivation to
enhance its production.
Area under citrus is increasing substantially every year but
production is increasing at a very low pace. The production
of citrus was consistent from 1994 to 1998. The fruit yield
during 1994-95 was 10,135.0 kg per hectare and after five
years (in 1999-2000) it fell down to 9,829.0 kg [Pakistan
Agricultural Statistics 2001]. In Pakistan, average
productivity is 9.5 tones per hectare [Pakistan Agricultural
Statistics 2001], which is very low as compared with
developed countries like United States, Japan and Australia.
In developed countries average yield is approximately 40
tons per hectare [FAO 1998]. There are a number of obstacles
in obtaining higher yield of citrus. It is generally thought
that the primary factor responsible for decrease in citrus
production and quality is poor plant nutrition. Low yield in
Pakistan is also attributed to disease incidence and insect
pests’ attack and poor or no pest management practices by
the farmers [PARC 1989]. AKRSP [1987] revealed that prior to
introduction of pest and disease control technology, not
only fruit production was low, but quality was also of low
standards.
To increase yield and improve the quality of citrus in
Pakistan, there is a need to introduce proper pests and
disease control technology. It has been reported that
adoption of insect and disease control methods has not only
helped to increase the quantity of fruit but improved the
quality as well [Cheema et al. 1989, Cheema and Asghar
1990]. Thus, there is a need to introduce disease and insect
control technology among all the citrus growers in the
country. Not much work has been done in Pakistan despite
significant importance of citrus fruit. So, the present
study aims at filling this gap and identifies the
characteristics of the citrus growers who are using spray
and examines the impacts of spray on citrus in Sargodha
district.
Some studies have been conducted on the adoption of plant
protection measures against pests and diseases of different
fruits but no specific work has been carried out on the use
of pesticide spray and its socio-economic correlates.
Related work is reviewed as follows:
Milne and Willers [1980] treated two mature Valencia orange
orchards with Fenamiphos 40% E.C. in 1978. In 1980 these
were retreated and there were significant increase in yield,
i.e. 83 to 130 kg per tree. Rashid [1980] studied some
personal and socio-economic factors associated with adoption
of recommended agricultural practices in Rural Egypt. He
reported that education and income were associated with the
uses of pesticide. However, age of farmer was not related to
the said uses. Ahmad [1992] conducted a study on the
adoption of plant protection measures by citrus growers and
found that there was a positive relationship between age
group, educational level, social status, size of holding,
size of orchard and adoption of plant protection measures.
Cheema et al. [1989] in their study in Gilgit district found
that net benefit for apple tree received was Rs. 111/= per
tree with a spray cost of Rs. 5.00 per tree, this gives a
ratio of 1: 22. Cheema and Asghar [1990] reported that on
the basis of cost structure involved in spray application to
citrus, it was found that an average return to investment on
citrus spray was 1 to 2.60.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The average production of citrus in Pakistan is 1960.80
(‘000’ tones) per annum. The Sargodha district is producing
744,000 tones (37% of Pakistan’s total production) citrus
fruit per annum [Pakistan Agricultural Statistics 2002].
Based on information gathered from the Revenue Department of
the District Management Office two sub divisions were
selected. Six villages, three from each sub-division,
Sargodha and Bhalwal were taken randomly. Over all samples
of 150 orchard owners (25 from each village) were drawn. The
data were collected with the help of personal interviews
based on structured questionnaire. Questionnaire contained
information on the socio-economic factors, which were likely
to influence the adoption of pesticide spray on citrus.
Farmer’s age, education (years of schooling), social status,
farm size and farming experience were used as the main
indicators for the use of pesticide technology.
Fieldwork was done in August-September 2001. Using SPSS
program, data were analyzed to identify the various
socio-economic characteristics of the users and non–users of
pesticides application. Gamma statistics and chi-square test
were also used to check the direction and magnitude of
relationship between independent and dependent variables.
Calculations were made by using the following formula:
Gamma = (Ns – Nd) / (Ns + Nd)
Where
Ns = number of same order-pairs.
Nd = number of different order-pairs.
If gamma is equal to 1.0, it means that dependent variable
is explained fully by independent variable without error.
Chi – Square Test:
X2 = ∑(o – e) 2 / e
Where
o = observed frequency
e = expected frequency
Both Gamma and Chi-Square values were considered significant
at 0.05 probability level.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
It was found that over all 48% of the respondents were
adopters of spray based on the parameters given in Table 1.
The relationship between different socio-economic factors
and adoption of pesticides spray is presented in Table 1.
The relationship between age and adoption of pesticide spray
is strongly negative. It is clear that farmers between age
group of 22-40 adopted the pesticide spray more (57.6%) than
elders. Our results are similar to those of Cheema and
Asghar [1990].
A strongly positive relationship was found between education
level and adoption. Farmers with higher education were
better adopters (61.5). These findings are in accordance
with what Ali [1972] and Cheema and Asghar [1990] have
reported.
Size of holding is one of the main determinant of financial
status of a farmer, which in turn affects farmer’s
receptivity to adopt modern production practices, like uses
of pesticides. The relationship between adoption of
pesticide spray and size of holding was weak, which
indicates that size of holding did not affect the adoption
of citrus spray in the study area.
There was a strong and negative relationship between farming
experience and adoption of insecticide spray. Farmers
adopted pesticide spray when they had less farming
experience as compared with those having more farming
experience. The relationship between social status and
adoption was strongly positive, which shows that higher
social status leads to adoption of pesticides spray more as
compared to low social status. These findings are similar to
those of Cheema and Asghar [1990].
Data presented in Table 2 indicate the difference in
production between users and non-users of pesticides.
Non-users had 17 tons citrus yield per hectare, valuing Rs.
86,000/= whereas users produced 21 tons per hectare, valuing
Rs. 105,000/=. A significant difference was found in
production by incurring Rs. 3,600/= on pesticide spray.
Farmers were able to get extra 4 tones of citrus per
hectare.
Data presented in Table 3 reveal that farmers, who made use
of spray had gross benefit of Rs. 105,000/= per hectare by
spending Rs. 3,600/= as a cost of spray. So, by incurring
Rs. 3,600/= per hectare farmers received Rs. 19,000/= as an
incremental benefit. Marginal rate of return on citrus spray
is 1:5.27 showing that by increasing cost on spray per
hectare by Re. 1.00 farmers were able to get an increase of
Rs. 5.27 in their income. Results of the study were quite
encouraging.
ONCLUSIONS AND POLICY IMPLICATIONS
The present study is an attempt to identify the
socio-economic factors affecting the use of pesticide, which
ultimately affects the rate of return per unit of investment
on citrus spray. Information on the socio-economic factors
that were likely to influence farmer’s receptivity to citrus
spray was gathered and was analyzed. Farmer’s age had
negative and strong correlation with pesticide usage; it
implies that farmers used citrus spray in younger age. The
positive and strong correlation was also found with
education. Educated farmers used more sprays than those with
little education or uneducated. Size of holding had no
effect on usage of citrus spray, while strong and negative
relationship has been found with farming experience. Farmers
used spray when they had less farming experience. In case of
social status farmers with higher social status used spray.
As far as the economic benefit of pesticide use is concerned
farmers, who made use of spray, had gross benefit of Rs.
105,000/= per hectare by spending Rs. 3,600/= per hectare.
So, farmers received Rs. 19,000/= as an incremental benefit.
Marginal rate of return on citrus spray is 1: 5.27 showing
that by increasing cost on spray per hectare by Rs. 1.00
farmers were able to get an increase of Rs. 5.27 in their
income.
Taking all the findings into account following suggestions
are given for policy implication:
1) The extension people should play an important role
for the dissemination of knowledge regarding pesticide
applications and should create awareness among farmers for
the said application, so that farmers could get benefit and
have better production by reducing losses.
2) The pesticide should be made available to the
farmers at the proper time and proper places.
3) The application of pesticides to citrus fruit
requires mechanical sprayers, which are expensive, and
beyond the purchasing power of farmers, so these should be
made available at cheaper prices.
References
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Source: Journal of
Research (Science), Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan,
Pakistan. Vol.14, No.1, June 2003, pp. 43-48 ISSN 1021 1012 |
