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Relationships between Safe Pesticide Practice and Perceived Benefits and Subjective Norm, and the Moderation Role of Information Acquisition: Evidence from 971 Farmers in China

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  • Jianhua Wang

    (School of Business, Jiangnan University, Lihudadao 1800, Wuxi 214122, China
    Food Safety Research Base of Jiangsu Province, Jiangnan University, Lihudadao 1800, Wuxi 214122, China)

  • Yuanyuan Deng

    (School of Business, Jiangnan University, Lihudadao 1800, Wuxi 214122, China)

  • Yuting Ma

    (School of Business, Jiangnan University, Lihudadao 1800, Wuxi 214122, China)

Abstract

Improper use of pesticides among farmers has caused food safety issues which are serious threats to public health in China. A central question concerns how to motivate farmers to self-regulate their pesticide usage. The paper aims to identify the influence of an internal driving factor, i.e., perceived benefits, and an external driving factor, i.e., subjective norm, on farmers’ safe pesticide behaviors, and whether the two factors are moderated by the exposure to information on government policies and the market, based on a sample of 971 farmers selected from 5 Chinese provinces. The results revealed that farmers’ safe pesticide usage was predominately driven by perceived benefits whereas external pressure or subjective norm did not play much of a role. Interaction effects were found between the exposure to market information and perceived benefits, and also between subjective norm and exposure to government policy. Extensions agencies are recommended to effectively convey to farmers the benefits to follow safe pesticide practices. Meanwhile, surveillance and monitoring systems should be established so that the prices of their agricultural products are reflected by the quality of the products.

Suggested Citation

  • Jianhua Wang & Yuanyuan Deng & Yuting Ma, 2017. "Relationships between Safe Pesticide Practice and Perceived Benefits and Subjective Norm, and the Moderation Role of Information Acquisition: Evidence from 971 Farmers in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-11, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:14:y:2017:i:9:p:962-:d:109801
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    Cited by:

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    2. Mingyue Li & Jingjing Wang & Kai Chen & Lianbei Wu, 2020. "Willingness and Behaviors of Farmers’ Green Disposal of Pesticide Packaging Waste in Henan, China: A Perceived Value Formation Mechanism Perspective," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-18, May.
    3. Amirhossein Pirmoradi & Farahnaz Rostami, 2022. "Farmers’ unsustainable behavior: application of the integrative agent-centered (IAC) framework," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 24(12), pages 13542-13556, December.
    4. Hao Dong & Yang Zhang & Tianqing Chen, 2023. "A Study on Farmers’ Participation in Environmental Protection in the Context of Rural Revitalization: The Moderating Role of Policy Environment," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-13, January.
    5. Simrin Kafle & Abhinav Vaidya & Bandana Pradhan & Erik Jørs & Sharad Onta, 2021. "Factors Associated with Practice of Chemical Pesticide Use and Acute Poisoning Experienced by Farmers in Chitwan District, Nepal," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-14, April.

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