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Is Environmentally Friendly Agriculture Less Profitable for Farmers? Evidence on Integrated Pest Management in Bangladesh

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  • Susmita Dasgupta
  • Craig Meisner
  • David Wheeler

Abstract

Concerns about the sustainability of conventional agriculture have prompted widespread introduction of integrated pest management (IPM), an ecologically based approach to control harmful insects and weeds. IPM is intended to reduce ecological and health damage from chemical pesticides by using natural parasites and predators to control pest populations. Since chemical pesticides are expensive for poor farmers, IPM offers the prospect of lower production costs and higher profitability. However, adoption of IPM may reduce profitability if it also lowers overall productivity or induces more intensive use of other production factors. On the other hand, IPM may actually promote more productive farming by encouraging more skillful use of available resources. Data scarcity has hindered a full accounting of IPM's impact on profitability, health, and local ecosystems. Using new survey data, this paper attempts such an accounting for rice farmers in Bangladesh. We compare outcomes for farming with IPM and conventional techniques, using input-use accounting and conventional production functions. All of our results suggest that the productivity of IPM rice farming is not significantly different from conventional farming. Since IPM reduces pesticide costs with no countervailing loss in production, it appears to be more profitable than conventional rice farming. Our interview results also suggest substantial health and ecological benefits. However, externality problems make it difficult for farmers to adopt IPM individually. Without collective adoption, neighbors' continued reliance on chemicals to eliminate pests will also kill helpful parasites and predators, as well as expose IPM farmers and local ecosystems to chemical spillovers from adjoining fields. Successful IPM adoption may therefore depend on institutional support for collective action.

Suggested Citation

  • Susmita Dasgupta & Craig Meisner & David Wheeler, 2007. "Is Environmentally Friendly Agriculture Less Profitable for Farmers? Evidence on Integrated Pest Management in Bangladesh," Review of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 29(1), pages 103-118.
  • Handle: RePEc:oup:revage:v:29:y:2007:i:1:p:103-118.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1111/j.1467-9353.2006.00332.x
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    1. Athukorala, Wasantha & Lee, Boon L. & Wilson, Clevo & Fujii, Hidemichi & Managi, Shunsuke, 2023. "Measuring the impact of pesticide exposure on farmers’ health and farm productivity," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 851-862.
    2. Martine AUDIBERT, 2008. "Endemic diseases and agricultural productivity: Challenges and policy response," Working Papers 200823, CERDI.
    3. Nyang'au, Paul Nyamweya, 2018. "Impact Of Integrated Pest Management Technology On Food Security Among Mango Farmers In Machakos County, Kenya," Research Theses 276453, Collaborative Masters Program in Agricultural and Applied Economics.
    4. Muhammad Kabir & Ruslan Rainis, 2015. "Do Farmers Not Widely Adopt Environmentally Friendly Technologies? Lesson from Integrated Pest Management (IPM)," Modern Applied Science, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 9(3), pages 208-208, March.
    5. Pouchepparadjou, A. & Kumaravelu, P. & Achoth, Lalith, 2005. "An Econometric Analysis of Green Technology Adoption in Irrigated Rice in Pondicherry Union Territory," Indian Journal of Agricultural Economics, Indian Society of Agricultural Economics, vol. 60(4), pages 1-17.
    6. Li, Jie & Gomez, Miguel I. & Rickard, Bradley J. & Skinner, Margaret, 2011. "Factors Influencing Adoption of Integrated Pest Management in Northeast Greenhouse and Nursery Production," Working Papers 126614, Cornell University, Department of Applied Economics and Management.
    7. Zhihai Yang & Amin W. Mugera & Ning Yin & Yumeng Wang, 2018. "Soil conservation practices and production efficiency of smallholder farms in Central China," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 20(4), pages 1517-1533, August.
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    9. Korir, Josphat Kiplang’at & Ritho, Cecilia & Irungu, Patrick & Affognon, Hippolyte, 2016. "Factors Influencing Intensity Of Adoption Of Integrated Pest Management Package And Pesticide Misuse In The Control Of Mango Fruit Fly In Embu East Sub-County, Kenya," Dissertations and Theses 271765, University of Nairobi, Department of Agricultural Economics.
    10. Lan Tran & Theodoros Skevas & Laura McCann, 2023. "Measuring pesticide overuse and its determinants: Evidence from Vietnamese rice and fruit farms," Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society, vol. 67(3), pages 417-437, July.
    11. Lampach, Nicolas & To-The, Nguyen & Nguyen-Anh, Tuan, 2021. "Technical efficiency and the adoption of multiple agricultural technologies in the mountainous areas of Northern Vietnam," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 103(C).
    12. Kumar, Anjani & Takeshima, Hiroyuki & Thapa, Ganesh & Adhikari, Naveen & Saroj, Sunil & Karkee, Madhab & Joshi, P.K., 2020. "Adoption and diffusion of improved technologies and production practices in agriculture: Insights from a donor-led intervention in Nepal," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 95(C).
    13. Li, Jie & Gómez, Miguel I. & Rickard, Bradley J. & Skinner, Margaret, 2013. "Factors Influencing Adoption of Integrated Pest Management in Northeast Greenhouse and Nursery Production," Agricultural and Resource Economics Review, Northeastern Agricultural and Resource Economics Association, vol. 42(2), pages 1-15, August.
    14. Ahsanuzzaman, Ahsanuzzaman, 2015. "Duration Analysis of Technology Adoption in Bangladeshi Agriculture," 2015 AAEA & WAEA Joint Annual Meeting, July 26-28, San Francisco, California 200406, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    15. Mashura Shammi & Nazmul Hasan & Md. Mostafizur Rahman & Kohinoor Begum & Md. Tajuddin Sikder & Mohammad Hossain Bhuiyan & Md. Khabir Uddin, 2017. "Sustainable pesticide governance in Bangladesh: socio-economic and legal status interlinking environment, occupational health and food safety," Environment Systems and Decisions, Springer, vol. 37(3), pages 243-260, September.
    16. Ashis Talukder & Sabira Naznin & Sabreena Hossain & Simlin Sultana & Md. Iqramul Haq, 0. "Factors Contributing To Adoption Of Agricultural Technologies: A Case Of Integrated Pest Management (Ipm) In Khulna District Of Bangladesh," Food & Agribusiness Management (FABM), Zibeline International Publishing, vol. 3(2), pages 74-78.
    17. Gregor Devine & Michael Furlong, 2007. "Insecticide use: Contexts and ecological consequences," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 24(3), pages 281-306, September.
    18. Korir, Josphat Kiplang'at, 2016. "Factors Influencing Intensity Of Adoption Of Integrated Pest Management Package And Pesticide Misuse In The Control Of Mango Fruit Fly In Embu East Sub-County, Kenya," Research Theses 276445, Collaborative Masters Program in Agricultural and Applied Economics.
    19. Solomon Asfaw & Dagmar Mithöfer & Hermann Waibel, 2010. "Agrifood supply chain, private‐sector standards, and farmers' health: evidence from Kenya," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 41(3‐4), pages 251-263, May.
    20. Beatrice W. Muriithi & Nancy G. Gathogo & Gracious M. Diiro & Samira A. Mohamed & Sunday Ekesi, 2020. "Potential Adoption of Integrated Pest Management Strategy for Suppression of Mango Fruit Flies in East Africa: An Ex Ante and Ex Post Analysis in Ethiopia and Kenya," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-23, July.
    21. Nyang’au, Paul Nyamweya & Nzuma, Jonathan & Irungu, Patrick & Muriithi, Beatrice, 2018. "A Thesis Submitted In Partial Fulfillment Of The Requirements For The Award Of A Master Of Science Degree In Agricultural And Applied Economics, University Of Nairobi," Dissertations and Theses 276387, University of Nairobi, Department of Agricultural Economics.

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