Virginia Tech
Adoption of Integrated Pest Management Technologies: A Case Study of Potato Farmers in Carchi, Ecuador
Abstract
dc:description.abstractPotato farmers in Ecuador rely on chemical inputs to manage pests and optimize yields. IPM techniques are recommended to lower production costs, reduce exposure to pesticides, and improve the long-term sustainability of the agriculture system. We conducted a survey of 109 potato farmers in Carchi, Ecuador that included 30 Farmer Field School (FFS) participants, 28 farmers who had been exposed to FFS-participants, and 51 randomly selected farmers. Using an ordered probit model, the data were analyzed to identify determinants and constraints of adoption. Access to information through FFS was the main determinant of adoption of IPM, followed by field days, pamphlets, and exposure to FFS-participants. The study looked at the relative cost-effectiveness of information dissemination methods and found that field days and pamphlets have strong impacts on adoption considering their low cost of implementation. The only significant household variable was household size, where larger households adopted less IPM. Per capita land holdings were not significant in the model. There is evidence of farmer-to-farmer diffusion from FFS to non-FFS farmers. Further research is necessary to evaluate the nature and quality of information transfer between farmers. The study was limited by the small sample size and non-random selection of farmer respondents.
Degree
thesis:*- Name thesis:degree_name
- Master of Science
- Level thesis:degree_level
- masters
- Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
- Agricultural and Applied Economics
- Department dc:contributor.department
- Agricultural and Applied Economics
- Grantor dc:publisher
- Virginia Tech
- Year dc:date.issued
- 2004
Author and committee
dc:creator, dc:contributor.*- Author dc:creator
-
- Mauceri, Maria
- Chair dc:contributor.committeechair
-
- Alwang, Jeffrey R.
- Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember
-
- Norton, George W.
- Stephenson, Stephen Kurt
Subjects
dc:subject × 5Rights
dc:rights- Statement dc:rights
-
- In Copyright
- Licence dc:rights.uri
Identifiers
dc:identifier.*- Dc Identifier Other
- etd-01052005-161443
- OAI identifier oai:identifier
- oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/30812