Determinants of integrated pest management adoption for olive fruit fly (Bactrocera oleae) in Roudbar,Iran

Extensive use of highly toxic pesticides for pest management has generated concerns over the negative impact of these chemicals on both human health and the environment. The use of integrated pest management (IPM) can address some of these concerns, but studies on the adoption behavior of growers are generally limited. A survey of 171 olive growers was conducted to analyze factors determining adoption of IPM practices for the control of olive fruit fly (Bactrocera oleae) in Roudbar county of Guilan province, Iran. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews with randomly selected olive growers of the study area using a structured questionnaire. Some growers (9.9%) did not adopt any IPM practice for olive fruit fly control, while the majority of the growers (almost 54%) showed some low level of adoption. Twelve variables were found to be strongly correlated with adoption of IPM practices for olive fruit fly control. The strongest link was demonstrated with growers' annual income, land area under cultivation, farming experience, extension activities, technical knowledge, and average olive fruit production. Discriminant analysis was used to identify the variables with the greatest power of classifying growers in three groups of IPM adopters (low, medium, and high level of adoption). The variable: farming experience and especially the olive farming experience along with the variables: family size and extension activities gave an overall classification accuracy of 72.1%, implying a strong capability of correctly differentiating growers in the IPM groups. Understanding growers' characteristics and behavior concerning the adoption of IPM can be a first major step for boosting adoption rates among olive growers of the study area or among growers of other areas with a similar profile. To this end, government policies should strengthen growers' technical knowledge of IPM concerning olive fruit fly through extension services and community involvement, particularly among inexperienced small-scale growers.     

Impact of integrated pest management of vegetables on pesticide use in subtropical Jammu,India

In a study at the subtropical vegetable-growing areas of the state of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), a quasi-experimental research design with a non-equivalent control group was employed to examine the impact of an integrated pest management (IPM) program implemented from 2008 to 2010 on the adoption of non-chemical pest management practices, pesticide use by weight (active ingredient [a.i.]), pesticide use frequency, field use environment impact (FEIQ) and safe handling and application of pesticides by IPM-trained farmers. There was no significant change in adoption of non-chemical practices, other than pheromone traps used by okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench) growers. Growers reduced FEIQ by 17.9 per hectare from 2008 to 2010. Pesticide use (a.i.) did not decrease significantly, and frequency decreased significantly by 72.4% only in cauliflower (Brassica oleracea L. var. botrytis). The vegetable growers did not use protective equipment while handling and applying pesticides thus putting themselves at risk. Implementation of IPM thus needs to be reexamined to significantly reduce pesticide use by weight, treatment frequency and FEIQ.