Bridging the Gap: Factors Influencing Farmers' Willingness and Behaviour in Biopesticide Application

Abstract

Replacing chemical pesticides with biopesticides is crucial for ensuring high-quality agricultural products and advancing environmental sustainability. This study examines farmers’ willingness and behaviors regarding the use of biopesticides. A survey of 127 farmers in Junagadh district, Gujarat, was conducted, and a logistic model was employed to analyze factors influencing deviations between farmers’ willingness and their actual behaviors. The findings revealed that 37% of farmers showed a discrepancy between their willingness to use biopesticides and their actual application. Factors significantly impacting this deviation included price affordability, peer influence, education level, land size, emergency conditions, awareness of biopesticides, knowledge of the harmful effects of chemical pesticides, and awareness of agricultural product safety and quality. The primary reason for the gap between willingness and behavior is the farmers’ insufficient knowledge about biopesticides and the incomplete market structure for these products. To address this issue, it is recommended to improve farmers’ professional skills, raise awareness about green production methods, and accelerate the development of the biopesticides market to boost their adoption.