Factors affecting the adoption of green prevention and control techniques by family farms: Evidence from Henan province of China

Abstract

Encouraging farmers to adopt green prevention and control techniques (GCTs) is conducive to ensuring the quality and safety of agricultural products, the ecological environment and agricultural production in China. To explore the factors influencing vegetable farmers’ adoption of GCTs, this study utilized the “information-motivation-behavior” intervention (IMB) model and ordered logistic model to empirically study the adoption behavior of 653 vegetable farmers in Henan Province, China. Estimation results indicated that the IMB model significantly predicted farmers’ adoption of GCTs: 1) From the perspective of adoption decisions, 88.82% of the farmers have adopted GCTs, but the degree of adoption is low. 2) the farmers’ adoption of GCTs IMB model specifies that higher levels of GCTs information, motivation, and behavioral skills should result in a greater likelihood of engaging in GCTs adoption behavior. 3) Motivation and behavioral skills are activated through information. 4) Finally, motivation can indirectly affect farmers’ GCTs adoption behavior through behavioral skills. The results of this study support the need for the government to promote the use of GCTs for vegetable pest control, as well as advance integrated prevention and control in the agricultural industry.