Tuta absoluta, a member of the moth family, causes devastating yield loss to tomato farmers around the world. Its recent migration into the tomato fields of Nepal puts tomato farmers at a high risk of yield loss. In response, chemical pesticide use by Nepali farmers is increasing. Integrated pest management (IPM) practices have been implemented in hopes of reducing the frequency of chemical pesticide use while controlling yield risks. This study examines the extent and determinants of Tuta absoluta IPM adoption and its effect on the frequency of pesticide use for Nepali tomato farmers. Primary data was collected from four-hundred and one households in four districts throughout Nepal. Two levels of IPM practices were assessed, simple and complex, based on the need for additional knowledge and tools. An instrumental variable probit analysis was used to analyze the determinants of IPM adoption. Household distance to nearest agricultural extension office was a significant factor decreasing the likelihood of the adoption of complex practices. Amount of land dedicated to tomato production, membership status of the primary decision maker, IPM training regarding Tuta absoluta practices and severity of Tuta absoluta were found to increase the likelihood of the adoption of complex practices. In order to analyze pesticide use, a simple linear regression was used. Primary decision maker's age, gender, and education level were significant determinates to decrease the amount of expenditures spent on chemical pesticides to control for Tuta absoluta. IPM adoption level, amount of land dedicated to tomato production and severity of Tuta absoluta damage were significant determinates to increase the amount of expenditures spent on chemical pesticides to control for Tuta absoluta. / Master of Science / Tuta absoluta, a member of the moth family, causes devastating yield loss to tomato farmers around the world. Its recent migration into the tomato fields of Nepal puts tomato farmers at a high risk of yield loss. In response, chemical pesticide use by Nepali farmers is increasing. Integrated pest management (IPM) practices have been implemented in hopes of reducing the frequency of chemical pesticide use while controlling yield risks. This study examines the extent and determinants of Tuta absoluta IPM adoption and its effect on the frequency of pesticide use for Nepali tomato farmers. Data was collected from four-hundred and one households in four districts throughout Nepal. Different economic tools were used to conduct the analyses. Results show the farther a household is to the near agricultural extension office, the less likely a household is to adopt complex practices. An increased amount of land dedicated to tomato production, the primary decision maker being a member of a marketing or community organization, the primary decision maker having attended IPM training regarding Tuta absoluta practices and the greater the severity of Tuta absoluta in the household tomato fields, the more likely a household is to adopt complex practices. Contrary to one of the goals of IPM practices, this study shows complex adopters use more chemical pesticides than simple adopters. Results this study shows a need for further education of the relationship between IPM practices and the use of chemical pesticides.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:VTETD/oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/102627 |
| Date | 12 September 2019 |
| Creators | Knaresboro, Lauren Marie |
| Contributors | Agricultural and Applied Economics, Norton, George W., Ramsey, A. Ford, Alwang, Jeffrey R. |
| Publisher | Virginia Tech |
| Source Sets | Virginia Tech Theses and Dissertation |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | ETD, application/pdf |
| Rights | In Copyright, http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ |
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