Factors Influencing Chemical Pesticide Use Among Orchardists with a Focus on Environmental Ethics in Agriculture

Document Type : مقاله پژوهشی

Authors
Gholamhossein Abdollahzadeh 1
Nadia Farahi 1
Ahmad Abedi Sarvestani 2
Mohammad Sharif Sharifzadeh 2
1 Department of Agricultural Extension and Education, Faculty of Agricultural Management, Gorgan University Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran.
2 Department of Agricultural Extension and Education, Faculty of Agricultural Management, Gorgan University Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran
10.30470/jrdes.2025.2066889.1082
Abstract
The objective of this research is to examine the factors influencing the consumption of chemical pesticides among orchardists, with an emphasis on environmental ethics in agriculture. A survey method and a researcher-designed questionnaire were used to collect the necessary data. The target population included 2,329 orchardists from the Golestan County, out of which 320 orchardists were selected as a sample using cluster sampling methods. Path analysis was utilized to understand the direct and indirect effects of independent variables on the final dependent variable, pesticide consumption. The results of the pesticide consumption pattern analysis indicated that the respondents exhibit a significant reliance on various types of chemical pesticides for pest control and utilize a diverse range of pesticides. The path analysis results showed that the most substantial negative impacts on pesticide consumption were associated with the independent variables of determining pesticide quantity based on expert recommendations, the overall safety index (use of personal protective equipment), possession of environmental ethics in agriculture, education level, determining pesticide quantity according to factory guidelines, participation in related training and extension programs, concern about the effects of pesticides on human health, concern about environmental impacts, and determining pesticide quantity based on the size of the orchard. Conversely, the independent variables with the most significant positive impacts on pesticide consumption included orchard size, farming experience, total production, income, age, non-orchard income, place of residence, and determining pesticide quantity based on recommendations from other farmers.
Keywords
Chemical inputs
horticultural products
sustainable agriculture
Gorgan County

رضایی، روح­اله؛ صفا، لیلا؛ و تقی­پور، توحید، (1390). بررسی نگرش برنجکاران شهرستان طارم نسبت به کشاورزی پایدار، (مطالعه موردی: روستای جزلاندشت)، اولین کنگره ملی علوم و فناوری‌های نوین کشاورزی زنجان.

سازمان جهاد کشاورزی استان گلستان، (1396). آمارنامه محصولات کشاورزی شهرستان گرگان.

سلیمانی کاریزمه، زهرا؛ میردامادی، سید مهدی؛ و لشگرآرا، فرهاد، (1391). تاثیر آموزش بر مصرف بهینه­ی سموم شیمیایی با نگاهی بر کشت سبزیجات در شهرستان ری، رشد آموزش فنی و حرفه­ای، 7، 3، 15-8.

شمس، علی؛ ودادی، الهام؛ و احمدی، زینب، (1394). ﺳﻨﺠﺶ ﻧﮕﺮش ﮐﺸﺎورزان ﺷﻬﺮﺳﺘﺎن اﺳﺪآﺑﺎد ﻧﺴﺒﺖ ﺑﻪ ﮐﺸﺎورزی ﭘﺎﯾﺪار و ارﺗﺒﺎط آن ﺑﺎ ﻣﯿﺰان ﻣﺼﺮف ﻧﻬﺎدهﻫﺎی ﺷﯿﻤﯿﺎﯾﯽ ﺗﻮﺳﻂ آنﻫﺎ، ﻋﻠﻮم ﺗﺮوﯾﺞ و آﻣﻮزش ﮐﺸﺎورزی اﯾﺮان، 11، 1، 210-197.

عابدی سروستانی، احمد، (1390). واکاوی نگرش و رفتار­های حامی محیط­زیست در بین دانشجویان دانشگاه علوم کشاورزی و منابع طبیعی گرگان، علوم ترویج و آموزش کشاورزی ایران، 2، 71-92.

عابدی سروستانی، احمد؛ و شاه ولی، منصور، (1391). تعامل انسان با طبیعت: یک واکاوی هنجاری، فصلنامه تحقیقات جغرافیایی، 27، 4، 1-32.

عابدی سروستانی، احمد؛ و شاه ولی، منصور، (1388). نقش ترویج کشاورزی در ارتقاء اخلاق زیست­محیطی کشاورزان، فصلنامه اخلاق در علوم و فناوری، 4، (1و 2)، 130-120.

قاسمی، صدیقه؛ و ﻛﺮﻣﻲ، عزت­اله، (1388). ﻧﮕﺮش­ﻫﺎ و رﻓﺘﺎرﻫﺎی ﮔﻠﺨﺎﻧﻪ­داران اﺳﺘﺎن ﻓﺎرس نسبت ﺑﻪ ﻛﺎرﺑﺮد ﺳﻤﻮم ﺷﻴﻤﻴﺎﻳﻲ در ﮔﻠﺨﺎﻧﻪ­ﻫا، اﻗﺘﺼﺎد و ﺗﻮﺳﻌﻪ ﻛﺸﺎورزی (ﻛﺸﺎورزی ﻋﻠﻮم و ﺻﻨﺎﻳﻊ)، 2، 1، 40-28.

کلانتری، خلیل، (1391). پردازش و تحلیل داده­ها در تحقیقات اجتماعی-اقتصادی، چاپ پنجم، انتشارات فرهنگ صبا، تهران.

محبوبی، محمدرضا؛ و رمضانی، نورا، (1390). ﺳﻨﺠﺶ اﺧﻼق زﻳﺴﺖ­ﻣﺤﻴﻄﻲ روﺳﺘﺎﻳﻴﺎن در اﺳﺘﺎن ﮔﻠﺴﺘﺎن، فصلنامه اخلاق در علوم و فناوری، 6، 2، 67-58.

Abdollahzadeh, G., Sharifzadeh, M. S., Damalas, C. A. (2015). Perceptions of the beneficial and harmful effects of pesticides among Iranian rice farmers influence the adoption of biological control. Crop Protection, 75, 124-131.‏
Abhilash, P. C., Singh, N. (2009). Pesticide use and application: an Indian scenario. Journal of Hazardous Materials,  165(1-3), 1-12.‏
Ahmed, N., Englund, J. E., Ahman, I., Lieberg, M., Johansson, E. (2011). Perception of pestiside use by farmers and neighbors in two periurban areas. Science of the Total Environment, 412, 77-86.
Arias, A. H., Buzzi, N. S., Pereira, M. T., & Marcovecchio, J. E. (2011). Pesticides reaching the environment as a consequence of inappropriate agricultural practices in Argentina. Pesticides-Formulations, Effects, Fate, 307, 532-537.‏
Atreya, K. (2007). Pesticide use knowledge and practices: A gender differences in Nepal. Environmental Research, 104(2), 305-311.‏
Atreya, K., Johnsen, F. H., Sitaula, B. K. (2012). Health and environmental costs of pesticide use in vegetable farming in Nepal. Environment, Development and Sustainability, 14(4), 477-493.‏
Bayard, B., Jolly, C. (2007). Environmental behavior, structure and socio-economic conditions of hillside farmers: A multiple-group structural equation modeling approach. Ecological Economics, 62, Pp. 433-440.
Bürger, J., de Mol, F., Gerowitt, B. (2012). Influence of cropping system factors on pesticide use intensity-A multivariate analysis of on-farm data in North East Germany. Europe. Journal of Agronomy, 40, 54-63.
Chouichom, S., Yamao, M. (2010). Comparing opinions and attitudes of organic and non-organic farmers towards organic rice farming system in north-eastern Thailand. Journal of Organic Systems, 5(1), 25-35.
Damalas, C. A., Eleftherohorinos, I. G. (2011). Pesticide exposure, safety issues, and risk assessment indicators. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health,  8(5), 1402-1419.‏
Dasgupta, S., Meisner, C., Huq, M. (2007). A pinch or a pint? Evidence of pesticide overuse in Bangladesh. Journal of Agricultural Economics,  58(1), 91-114.‏
de Souza, R. M., Seibert, D., Quesada, H. B., de Jesus Bassetti, F., Fagundes-Klen, M. R., & Bergamasco, R. (2020). Occurrence, impacts and general aspects of pesticides in surface water: A review. Process Safety and Environmental Protection, 135, 22-37.‏
Escalada, M. M., Heong, K. L., Sengsoulivong, V., Schiller, J. M. (2006). Determinants of insecticide-use decisions of lowland rice farmers in Laos, Rice in Laos. International Rice Research Institute, Los Baños, Philippines, 283-290.‏.
Grovermann, C., Schreinemachers, P., Berger, T. (2013). Quantifying pesticide overuse fromfarmer and societal points of view: An application to Thailand. Crop Protection, 53, 161-168.
Hashemi, S. M., Damalas, C. A. (2010). Farmers' perceptions of pesticide efficacy: reflections on the importance of pest management practices adoption. Journal of Sustainable Agriculture,  35(1), 69-85.‏
Houbraken, M., Bauweraerts, I., Fevery, D., Van Labeke, M. C., Spanoghe, P. (2016). Pesticide knowledge and practice among horticultural workers in the Lâm Đồng region, Vietnam: A case study of chrysanthemum and strawberries. Science of the Total Environment, 550, 1001-1009.
Ibitayo, O. O. (2006). Egyptian farmers' attitudes and behaviors regarding agricultural pesticides: implications for pesticide risk communication. Risk Analysis,  26(4), 989-995.‏
Karunamoorthi,­ K.­­, Mubarek, M,. Fantahun, W. (2012). Knowledge and practices of farmers with reference to pesticide management: Implications on human health. Archives of  Environmental and Occupational Health, 67(2), 109-116.
Kole, R. K., Roy, K., Panja, B. N., Sankarganesh, E., Mandal, T., & Worede, R. E. (2019). Use of pesticides in agriculture and emergence of resistant pests. Indian Journal of Anima. Health, 58(2), 53-70.‏
Lichtenberg, E., Zimmerman, R. (1999). Information and farmer's attitudes about pesticides, water quality, and related environmental effects, Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environments, 73, 227-236.
Majumder, R. (2023). Balancing food security and environmental safety: rethinking modern agricultural practices. Environmental and Experimental Biology, 21(4), 101-110.‏
Ngowi, A. V. F., Mbise, T. J., Ijani, A. S. M., London, L., Ajayi, O. C. (2007). Smallholder vegetable farmers in Northern Tanzania: Pesticides use practices, perceptions, cost and health effects. Crop Protection,  26(11), 1617-1624.‏
Qi, C. (2013). Analysis on Factors Influencing the Behavior of Apple Growers in Shaanxi Province. Ph.D. Thesis, Northwest Agriculture & Forestry University, Yangling, China.
Rahman, S., Chima, C. D. (2018). Determinants of pesticide use in food crop production in Southeastern Nigeria. Agriculture,  8(3), 1-14.‏
Rajanna, N., Vijayalaxmi, K. G., Lakshminaryan, M. T., Chandregowda, K. N. (2009). Attitude of paddy farmers towards sustainable farming practices. Mysore Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 43(3), 522-526.
Reccena, M. C. P., Caldas, E. D., Piers, D. X., Pontes, E. R. J. C. (2006). Pesticide exposure in culturama, Brazil: knowledge, attitudes, and practices. Environmental Research, 102, 230-236.
Ríos-González, A., Jansen, K., Sánchez-Pérez, H. J. (2013). Pesticide risk perceptions and the differences between farmers and extensionists: Towards a knowledge-in-context model. Environmental Research, 124, 43-53.
Salameh, P. R., Baldi, I., Brochard, P., Saleh, B. (2003). Pesticide in Lebanon: a knowledge, attitude, and practice study. Environment Research, 94, 1-6.
Schreinemachers, P., Sringarm, S., Sirijinda, A. (2011). The role of synthetic pesticides in the intensification of highland agriculture in Thailand. Crop Protection, 30, 1430-1437.
Sharifzadeh, M. S., Abdollahzadeh, G., Damalas, C. A., Rezaei, R., Ahmadyousefi, M. (2019). Determinants of pesticide safety behavior among Iranian rice farmers. Science of the Total Environment,  651, 2953-2960.‏
Tudi, M., Daniel Ruan, H., Wang, L., Lyu, J., Sadler, R., Connell, D., & Phung, D. T. (2021). Agriculture development, pesticide application and its impact on the environment. International journal of environmental research and public health, 18(3), 1112.‏
Veisi, H., Liaghati, H., Alipour, A. (2016). Developing an ethics-based approach to indicators of sustainable agriculture using analytic hierarchy process (AHP). Ecological Indicators, 60, 644-654.‏
Verger, P. J. P., Boobis, A .R. (2013). Reevaluate pesticides for food security and safety, Science, 341, 717–718.
Wang, C. W., Gu, H. Y. (2013). Market vs. government, what force has affected our country vegetable farmer pesticide dosage choice? World Management,  11, 50-66.‏
Wang, J., Deng, Y., Diao, H. (2018). Market Returns, External Pressure, and Safe Pesticide Practice-Moderation Role of Information Acquisition. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health,  15(9), 2-16.‏
Weng, C. Y., Black, C. (2015). Taiwanese farm workers’ pesticide knowledge, attitudes, behaviors and clothing practices. International Journal of Environmental Health Research, 12, 1-12.
Yassin M. M., Abu Mourad T. A., Safi J .M. (2002). Knowledge, attitudes, practice and toxicity symptoms associated with pesticide use among farm workers in Gaza Strip. Occupational and Environment Medicine Journal, 59, 387-394.
Yazgan, M. S., Tanik, A. (2005). A new approach for calculating the relative risk level of pesticides. Environment International, 31(5), 687-692.‏
Zhou, J., Hu, J. (2009). The analysis of management behavior of vegetable processors quality and its influencing factors-taking Zhejiang province for example. China Rural Economic, 3, 45–56.
Zinyemba, C., Archer, E., Rother, H. A. (2018). Climate variability, perceptions and political ecology: Factors influencing changes in pesticide use over 30 years by Zimbabwean smallholder cotton producers. PloS one,  13(5), 1-19.

  • Receive Date 24 July 2025
  • Revise Date 08 October 2025
  • Accept Date 03 January 2026
  • Publish Date 20 January 2026