Do farmers and the environment benefit from adopting IPM practices? Evidence from Kenya

In this article, we estimate the impacts of a bundle of integrated pest management (IPM) practices on mango yield, mango net income, human health and the environment, using recent household survey data of mango growers in Kenya. We employ multinomial endogenous switching treatment regression model with an ordered probit selection rule to establish counterfactual outcomes, while controlling for potential selection bias. The environmental and human health effects of chemical insecticide use are quantified by employing the environmental impact quotient method. The analysis reveals that, while IPM-adopting farmers have higher mango yields and mango net income, they also use lower quantities of insecticide and cause less damage to the environment and to human health. In addition, switching from one IPM to multiple IPM practices generates even higher economic, environmental and human health benefits. The findings also reveal that variables such as training on insect pest management, exposure to IPM as proxied by the number of adopters within a village, membership of rural institutions, and income share from mango crops positively and significantly influence the probability of a farmer using a bundle of IPM practices. These positive outcomes can be achieved through providing adequate technical support and extension services to farmers.