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Do Pesticide Sellers Make Farmers Sick? Health, Information, and Adoption of Technology in Bangladesh

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  • Alam, Shamma Adeeb
  • Wolff, Hendrik

Abstract

We study the impact of supply-side and demand-side pesticide regulations on the adoption of health technologies and health outcomes in Bangladesh. We use a unique dataset that spans the chain from where farmers obtain information and which precautionary tools (i.e., masks, gloves) they use to subsequent health outcomes after spraying. In contrast to previous studies, we find that information from pesticide sellers increases the adoption of precautionary tools and subsequently improves health outcomes.We also find that there is substantial social learning from peers that act as key knowledge multipliers.

Suggested Citation

  • Alam, Shamma Adeeb & Wolff, Hendrik, 2016. "Do Pesticide Sellers Make Farmers Sick? Health, Information, and Adoption of Technology in Bangladesh," Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Western Agricultural Economics Association, vol. 41(1), pages 1-34, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:jlaare:230772
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.230772
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Mustapha F.A. Jallow & Dawood G. Awadh & Mohammed S. Albaho & Vimala Y. Devi & Binson M. Thomas, 2017. "Pesticide Knowledge and Safety Practices among Farm Workers in Kuwait: Results of a Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-15, March.
    2. Sun, Shengyang & Zhang, Chao & Hu, Ruifa & Liu, Jian, 2023. "Do pesticide retailers’ recommendations aggravate pesticide overuse? Evidence from rural China," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 13(7), pages 1-1.
    3. repec:zib:zbseps:v:2:y:2022:2:1:p:67-73 is not listed on IDEAS
    4. Shengyang Sun & Chao Zhang & Ruifa Hu & Jian Liu, 2023. "Do Pesticide Retailers’ Recommendations Aggravate Pesticide Overuse? Evidence from Rural China," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-16, June.
    5. Lai, Wangyang, 2017. "Pesticide use and health outcomes: Evidence from agricultural water pollution in China," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 93-120.
    6. Pan, Dan & Zhang, Ning, 2018. "The Role of Agricultural Training on Fertilizer Use Knowledge: A Randomized Controlled Experiment," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 148(C), pages 77-91.
    7. Jing Zhang & Jianhua Wang & Xiaoshi Zhou, 2019. "Farm Machine Use and Pesticide Expenditure in Maize Production: Health and Environment Implications," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(10), pages 1-13, May.
    8. Pan, Dan & Zhang, Ning & Kong, Fanbin, 2021. "Does it matter who gives information? The impact of information sources on farmers’ pesticide use in China," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).

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