PUBLICATIONS, Research ReportsValuing Health Risk in Agriculture: A Choice Experiment Approach to Pesticides in Anqiu County, China Posted on 4 January, 202114 January, 2021 by researchBy Jin Jianjun, Wang Wenyu, He Rui Summary: This research evaluated small-scale farmers’ knowledge, perceptions of pesticide risks, and practices with regard to pesticide use to identify the determinants of their behavior. A choice experiment approach was also applied to investigate farmers’ valuations of health risk changes associated with pesticide use. A total of 630 farmers from seven towns in Anqiu County, China were interviewed and 420 farmers were randomly assigned to answer choice experiment valuation tasks. Results show that the frequency of pesticide application by local farmers is high and that the improper disposal of pesticides after use is common in the study area. The probability of pesticide overuse significantly decreased with farmers’ risk perceptions, willingness to reduce pesticide use, better social relationships, and strict government monitoring. Results of the choice experiment show that cancer consequence due to pesticide use decreases the utility of the farmer. Household income, education, and age have significant and positive impacts on farmers’ WTP. Farmers who are more educated or female are more likely to accept the compensation scheme if health risks increase. The marginal WTA for the same risk change is about two times higher than the marginal WTP. Research Report: DownloadCountry: ChinaPublication Year: 2017Research Areas: AgricultureResearch Topic: IPM, agrochemical & healthAnalytical Framework: Behavioral/Experimental Economics, Benefit valuation, Damage valuation Crop-Choice Games for Analyzing Externality Problems of Rice Field Conversion into Oil Palm Plantation in North Sumatera Province, IndonesiaTo Drink or Not to Drink: Exploring the Riddle of Household Water Quality
Summary: This research evaluated small-scale farmers’ knowledge, perceptions of pesticide risks, and practices with regard to pesticide use to identify the determinants of their behavior. A choice experiment approach was also applied to investigate farmers’ valuations of health risk changes associated with pesticide use. A total of 630 farmers from seven towns in Anqiu County, China were interviewed and 420 farmers were randomly assigned to answer choice experiment valuation tasks. Results show that the frequency of pesticide application by local farmers is high and that the improper disposal of pesticides after use is common in the study area. The probability of pesticide overuse significantly decreased with farmers’ risk perceptions, willingness to reduce pesticide use, better social relationships, and strict government monitoring. Results of the choice experiment show that cancer consequence due to pesticide use decreases the utility of the farmer. Household income, education, and age have significant and positive impacts on farmers’ WTP. Farmers who are more educated or female are more likely to accept the compensation scheme if health risks increase. The marginal WTA for the same risk change is about two times higher than the marginal WTP.