Herbicide use in conventional cereal production in northern Greece: An appraisal through the theory of planned behavior

Abstract

BACKGROUND Herbicides are the major method of weed control in most conventional cropping systems, but what affects farmers' intention to use herbicides has not been studied extensively. This study examined herbicide use among cereal farmers of northern Greece and tested for the first time whether the theory of planned behavior (TPB) can explain farmers' behavior in the adoption of herbicide use. RESULTS Most farmers showed favorable attitudes towards herbicide use (71.2%), high levels of perceived behavioral control (PBC) of herbicide use (62.4%), and positive intention to use herbicides (67.6%). By contrast, most farmers (60.4%) were negative in following the advice of others in the adoption of herbicides. Finally, most farmers (82.8%) used herbicides in cereal production. The TPB explained 47.6% of the variation in farmers' intention to use herbicides. Logistic regression showed that intention and PBC positively affected (P < 0.01) farmers' behavior in herbicide use, explaining 45.8–76.2% of the variation in farmers' behavior. Path analysis showed that attitudes, subjective norms, and PBC had a direct impact on intention. Gender had an indirect impact on intention through PBC, while age and farming as a main profession had an indirect impact on intention through attitudes and subjective norms. Furthermore, education had an indirect impact on intention through attitudes and PBC. CONCLUSION Farmers' intentions and behavior in the use of herbicides in cereal production could be explained by the TPB. Attitudes showed the strongest total effect on the intention to use herbicides. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Pesticide Use Practices among Female Headed Households in the Amhara Region, Ethiopia

“…This section introduces the approaches of social practice theory and applies to understand the existing pesticide use practices on female-headed farms. The behavior-oriented approach that has received much attention in pesticide use research [39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47] is the theory of planned behavior (TPB) [48], which centers on individual attitudes, behaviors, and choices. Behavioral-based approaches assume that individuals are primarily responsible for the problems being addressed and they should be the target of intervention [49], undermining other dynamic factors that influence how and why practices are created and performed in a specific situation [34,[50][51][52][53].…”

Residue of Pesticides in Fruits, Vegetables, and Their Management in Ethiopia

“…Although Ethiopia has previously used few chemical pesticides, recent changes in increased agricultural production and the foriculture business have led to increased pesticide consumption [11]. Food quality has signifcantly declined because of extensive pesticide use in agricultural felds, and small-scale vegetable growers in Ethiopia disregard recommendations and use pesticides carelessly [12]. Te environment, farmer and consumer health, and agricultural sustainability are all afected by these pesticide use practices, and a major global public health concern is the presence of pesticide residues in horticulture products at unsafe levels [13].…”