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What Do Romanian Farmers Think about the Effects of Pesticides? Perceptions and Willingness to Pay for Bio-Pesticides

Author

Listed:
  • Ruxandra Malina Petrescu-Mag

    (Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, Babes-Bolyai University; 30 Fantanele St., 400294 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
    These authors have equal contribution to the paper and are considered first author.)

  • Ioan Banatean-Dunea

    (Department of Vertebrate Zoology and Hydrobiology, The Banat University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Timisoara; 119 Calea Aradului St., 300645 Timisoara, Romania)

  • Stefan Cristian Vesa

    (Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Clinical Pharmacology, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 23 Gheorghe Marinescu St., 400337 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
    These authors have equal contribution to the paper and are considered first author.)

  • Sofia Copacinschi

    (Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, Babes-Bolyai University; 30 Fantanele St., 400294 Cluj-Napoca, Romania)

  • Dacinia Crina Petrescu

    (Faculty of Business, Babes-Bolyai University, 7 Horea St., 400174 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
    These authors have equal contribution to the paper and are considered first author.)

Abstract

Farmers’ knowledge and perception of risks associated with pesticides are core issues in adopting sustainable behavior related to pesticides. This study aimed to find out if Romanian farmers’ perceptions regarding the effects of conventional pesticides on pests, health, and the environment can predict farmers’ willingness to replace conventional pesticides with bio ones and to pay a higher price for the latter. This is the first investigation of Romanian farmers’ perceptions regarding pesticides, thus providing information useful both from the market and environmental protection perspectives. Binary logistic regression was performed to test the relationship between the perceived effect of pesticides, on the one side, and willingness to change conventional with bio-pesticides and willingness to pay for bio-pesticides, on the other side. It was found that the efficiency of conventional pesticides on combating pests and their effects on a farmer’s health can predict farmer willingness to replace conventional approaches with bio-pesticides. Conclusions disclose entry points for interventions aimed at improving communication and information strategies at the country level for raising awareness of the adverse effects of pesticide products, both at the food consumer and farmer levels.

Suggested Citation

  • Ruxandra Malina Petrescu-Mag & Ioan Banatean-Dunea & Stefan Cristian Vesa & Sofia Copacinschi & Dacinia Crina Petrescu, 2019. "What Do Romanian Farmers Think about the Effects of Pesticides? Perceptions and Willingness to Pay for Bio-Pesticides," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(13), pages 1-16, July.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:13:p:3628-:d:244894
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Ke Liu & Zhenhong Qi & Li Tan & Caiyan Yang & Canwei Hu, 2023. "Mixed Use of Chemical Pesticides and Biopesticides among Rice–Crayfish Integrated System Farmers in China: A Multivariate Probit Approach," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-17, August.
    2. Ionuț-Alexandru Spânu & Alexandru Ozunu & Dacinia Crina Petrescu & Ruxandra Malina Petrescu-Mag, 2022. "A Comparative View of Agri-Environmental Indicators and Stakeholders’ Assessment of Their Quality," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-23, March.
    3. Siyu Gong & Bo Wang & Zhigang Yu, 2022. "Whether the Use of the Internet Can Assist Farmers in Selecting Biopesticides or Not: A Study Based on Evidence from the Largest Rice-Producing Province in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-17, December.
    4. Pablo Farías, 2020. "Promoting the Absence of Pesticides through Product Labels: The Role of Showing a Specific Description of the Harmful Effects, Environmental Attitude, and Familiarity with Pesticides," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(21), pages 1-8, October.
    5. Constantina Alina Hossu & Ioan Cristian Iojă & Maria Pătroescu & Adrian Dușa & Anna M. Hersperger, 2019. "Dispute Resolution and Collaborative Decision-Making: What Accounts for Their Effectiveness? The Case of Romania," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(24), pages 1-13, December.
    6. Xiuling Ding & Apurbo Sarkar & Lipeng Li & Hua Li & Qian Lu, 2022. "Effects of Market Incentives and Livelihood Dependence on Farmers’ Multi-Stage Pesticide Application Behavior—A Case Study of Four Provinces in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-19, August.

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