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Novel IPM Intervention for West Africa: Smallholder Farmers’ Preferences for Biological versus Synthetic Control Strategies for Cowpea Pests

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  • Agyekum, Michael
  • Donovan, Cynthia
  • Lupi, Frank

Abstract

Cowpeas are a critical crop for food and income security for millions of people in Africa. Insect pests, however, are a major production constraint causing over 50% yield losses. Farmers indiscriminately apply expensive synthetic pesticides in spite of attendant health and environmental risks. Recognizing that current chemical control methods are costly and unsustainable for resource-poor farmers, an innovative integrated pest management strategy based on biocontrol agents is being explored for West Africa. Therefore, the objective of this study was to predict potential adoption of the innovative biocontrol strategy by determining important factors that explain farmers’ pest control decisions. To this end, we designed a choice experiment survey for 505 cowpea farmers in Benin. A conditional logit model was estimated. Survey findings indicate that farmers are aware of health hazards but persistently apply chemical pesticides out of necessity. Also, model results reveal that important factors driving pest control decisions include costs, labor, and potential yield losses. Finally, we show that social norms could be leveraged to enhance adoption of the biocontrol method. These findings have promising implications for on-going efforts to develop and disseminate sustainable biocontrol strategies that are eco-friendly and cost effective for smallholder farmers.

Suggested Citation

  • Agyekum, Michael & Donovan, Cynthia & Lupi, Frank, 2016. "Novel IPM Intervention for West Africa: Smallholder Farmers’ Preferences for Biological versus Synthetic Control Strategies for Cowpea Pests," 2016 Annual Meeting, July 31-August 2, Boston, Massachusetts 235993, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:aaea16:235993
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.235993
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Reyes, Byron & Maredia, Mywish K. & Dabire, Clementine & Pittendrigh, Barry & Ba, Malick, 2013. "Economic Impacts of Bio-control Research to Manage Field Insect Pests of Cowpea in Burkina Faso: Baseline Survey Report," Staff Paper Series 163279, Michigan State University, Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics.
    3. Jeff Bennett & Ekin Birol (ed.), 2010. "Choice Experiments in Developing Countries," Books, Edward Elgar Publishing, number 13208.
    4. Prabhu L. Pingali & Cynthia B. Marquez & Florencia G. Palis, 1994. "Pesticides and Philippine Rice Farmer Health: A Medical and Economic Analysis," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 76(3), pages 587-592.
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    Keywords

    Consumer/Household Economics; Crop Production/Industries; Food Security and Poverty; International Development;
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