Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Modeling farmers’ intention for safe pesticide use: the role of risk perception and use of information sources

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Environmental Science and Pollution Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Intention for safe pesticide use plays a crucial role in the mode of pesticide spraying, but several factors are involved in the formation of intention by farmers. This work focused on the levels of farmers’ perception of pesticide risks (i.e., toxicity levels, health, and environmental effects) and utilization of information sources and examined their impact on intention for safe pesticide use in rural Iran. Most farmers (53%) showed low levels of risk perception by pesticide use and reported poor use of the available information sources about pesticides. Pesticide retailers were mentioned as the primary information point of farmers. In addition, almost half of the farmers (49.2%) expressed worryingly negative intention for safe pesticide use. Perception of pesticide risks and utilization of information sources were significantly correlated with age and spraying experience (P < 0.01), while intention for safe pesticide use was significantly correlated with farming experience (P < 0.05) and spraying experience (P < 0.05). Analysis with structural equation modeling showed that perception of pesticide risks and use of information sources together explained 80% of the variability in farmers’ intention. Moreover, perception of pesticide risks (P < 0.01) and employment of information sources (P < 0.05) had a positive relationship with intention for safe handling of pesticides, thus showing a predictive link with intention. Therefore, promoting farmers’ perception of pesticide risks and providing credible information sources are essential for improving intention for safe pesticide use among farmers.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

Available on reasonable request.

References

  • Abdollahzadeh G, Sharifzadeh MS, Damalas CA (2015) Perceptions of the beneficial and harmful effects of pesticides among Iranian rice farmers influence the adoption of biological control. Crop Prot 75:124–131

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Abdollahzadeh G, Damalas CA, Sharifzadeh MS, Ahmadi-Gorgi H (2016a) Selecting strategies for rice stem borer management using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP). Crop Prot 84:27–36

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Abdollahzadeh G, Sharifzadeh MS, Damalas CA (2016b) Motivations for adopting biological control among Iranian rice farmers. Crop Prot 80:42–50

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Al Zadjali S, Morse S, Chenoweth J, Deadman M (2013) Disposal of pesticide waste from agricultural production in the Al-Batinah region of Northern Oman. Sci Total Environ 463:237–242

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alavi M (2014) Reporting the results of structural equation modeling (SEM) writing. Quart J Nurs Manag 3:8–19 (in Persian with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Allahyari MS, Damalas CA, Ebadattalab M (2016) Determinants of integrated pest management adoption for olive fruit fly (Bactrocera oleae) in Roudbar, Iran. Crop Prot 84:113–120

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bagheri A, Bondori A, Allahyari MS, Damalas CA (2019) Modeling farmers’ intention to use pesticides: an expanded version of the theory of planned behavior. J Environ Manag 248:109291

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barclay D, Higgins C, Thompson R (1995) The partial least squares approach to causal modeling: personal computer adoption and use as an illustration. Technol Stud 2:285–309

    Google Scholar 

  • Boateng GO, Neilands TB, Frongillo EA, Melgar-Quiñonez HR, Young SL (2018) Best practices for developing and validating scales for health, social, and behavioral research: a primer. Front Public Health 6:149

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bondori A, Bagheri A, Sookhtanlou M (2019) Analysis of Moghan Plain farmers’ health-safety behavior towards using chemical pesticides. Iranian J Agric Ext Educ Sci 14:183–161 (in Persian)

    Google Scholar 

  • Byrne BM (2013) Structural equation modeling with LISREL, PRELIS, and SIMPLIS: basic concepts, applications, and programming. Psychology Press, London, UK

  • Damalas CA (2009) Understanding benefits and risks of pesticide use. Sci Res Essays 4:945–949

    Google Scholar 

  • Damalas CA, Eleftherohorinos IG (2011) Pesticide exposure, safety issues, and risk assessment indicators. Int J Environ Res Public Health 8:1402–1419

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Damalas CA, Khan M (2017) Pesticide use in vegetable crops in Pakistan: insights through an ordered probit model. Crop Prot 99:59–64

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Damalas CA, Koutroubas SD (2016) Farmers’ exposure to pesticides: toxicity types and ways of prevention. Toxics 4:1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Damalas CA, Koutroubas SD (2017) Farmers’ training on pesticide use is associated with elevated safety behavior. Toxics 5:19

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Damalas CA, Koutroubas SD (2018) Farmers’ behaviour in pesticide use: a key concept for improving environmental safety. Curr Opin Environ Sci Health 4:27–30

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Damalas CA, Theodorou MG, Georgiou EB (2006) Attitudes towards pesticide labelling among Greek tobacco farmers. Int J Pest Manag 52:269–274

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Damalas CA, Koutroubas SD, Abdollahzadeh G (2019) Drivers of personal safety in agriculture: a case study with pesticide operators. Agriculture 9:34

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dey KR, Choudhury P, Dutta BK (2013) Impact of pesticide use on the health of farmers: a study in Barak valley, Assam (India). J Environ Chem Ecotox 5:269–277

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Duckworth KL, Bargh JA, Garcia M, Chaiken S (2002) The automatic evaluation of novel stimuli. Psychol Sci 13:513–519

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fan L, Niu H, Yang X, Qin W, Bento CP, Ritsema CJ, Geissen V (2015) Factors affecting farmers’ behaviour in pesticide use: insights from a field study in northern China. Sci Total Environ 537:360–368

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fornell C, Larcker D (1981) Evaluating structural equation models with unobservable variables and measurement error. J Mark Res 3:75–98

    Google Scholar 

  • Fu L, Sun Z, Zha L, Liu F, He L, Sun X, Jing X (2020) Environmental awareness and pro-environmental behavior within China’s road freight transportation industry: moderating role of perceived policy effectiveness. J Clean Prod 252:119796

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ghasemi S, Karami E (2009) Attitudes and behaviors about pesticides use among greenhouse workers in Fars province. J Agric Econ Dev 23:28–40 (in Persian with English abstract)

  • Glasman LR, Albarracín D (2006) Forming attitudes that predict future behavior: a meta-analysis of the attitude-behavior relation. Psychol Bull 132:778–822

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Golbaz S, Karami-Dehkordi A, Mojarrdai G (2015) The impact of acquisition of information from interpersonal communication channels of grape growers on the correct amount of fertilizer consumption in vineyards of Khorramdareh County. Iranian J Econ Res Agric Dev 64:167–176

    Google Scholar 

  • Golzardi F, Sororamini S, Saeedvazan S, Sororamini M (2011) Attitudes and behavior of farmers of central part of Karaj city toward chemical herbicide use. Quart Weed Ecol 2:71–83 (in Persian)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hair J, Ringle C, Sarstedt M (2011) PLS-SEM: indeed a silver bullet. J Mark Theory Pract 19:139–151

  • Hasan SS, Ghosh MK, Arefin MS, Sultana S (2015) Farmers’ attitude towards using agro-chemicals in rice production: a case in Laxmipur district of Bangladesh. The Agriculturists 13:105–112

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hashemi SM, Rostami R, Hashemi MK, Damalas CA (2012) Pesticide use and risk perceptions among farmers in southwest Iran. Hum Ecol Risk Assess 18:456–470

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Houbraken M, Bauweraerts I, Fevery D, Van Labeke MC, Spanoghe P (2016) Pesticide knowledge and practice among horticultural workers in the Lâm Đồng region, Vietnam: a case study of chrysanthemum and strawberries. Sci Total Environ 550:1001–1009

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hulland J (1999) Use of partial least square (PLS) in strategic management research: a review of four recent studies. Strat Manag 20:195–204

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Iacobucci D, Duhachek A (2003) Mediation analysis – round table acr 2003. Presentation at the round table of the ACR Conference, Toronto

  • Isin S, Yildirim I (2007) Fruit-growers’ perceptions on the harmful effects of pesticides and their reflection on practices: the case of Kemalpasa, Turkey. Crop Prot 26:917–922

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jallow MF, Awadh DG, Albaho MS, Devi VY, Thomas BM (2017a) Pesticide knowledge and safety practices among farm workers in Kuwait: results of a survey. Int J Environ Res Public Health 14:340

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jallow MF, Awadh DG, Albaho MS, Devi VY, Thomas BM (2017b) Pesticide risk behaviors and factors influencing pesticide use among farmers in Kuwait. Sci Total Environ 574:490–498

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jin S, Bluemling B, Mol APJ (2015) Information, trust and pesticide overuse: Interactions between retailers and cotton farmers in China. NJAS – Wageningen J Life Sci 72-73:23–32

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jin J, Wang W, He R, Gong H (2017) Pesticide use and risk perceptions among small-scale farmers in Anqiu County, China. Int J Environ Res Public Health 14:29

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Karunamoorthi K, Mohammed M, Wassie F (2012) Knowledge and practices of farmers with reference to pesticide management: implications on human health. Arch Environ Occup Health 67:109–116

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Khan M, Damalas CA (2015) Factors preventing the adoption of alternatives to chemical pest control among Pakistani cotton farmers. Int J Pest Manag 61:9–16

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Khan M, Mahmood HZ, Damalas CA (2015) Pesticide use and risk perceptions among farmers in the cotton belt of Punjab, Pakistan. Crop Prot 67:184–190

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krejcie RV, Morgan DW (1970) Determining sample size for research activities. Educ Psychol Meas 30:607–610

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lam LW (2012) Impact of competitiveness on salespeople’s commitment and performance. J Bus Res 65:1328–1334

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lapierre L, Quintrel M, Lagos-Susaeta F, Hervé-Claude LP, Riquelme R, Oviedo P, Maino M, Cornejo J (2019) Assessment of antimicrobial and pesticide residues in food products sourced from peasant family farming in Chile. J Food Prot 82:1583–1590

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lithourgidis CS, Stamatelatou K, Damalas CA (2016) Farmers’ attitudes towards common farming practices in northern Greece: implications for environmental pollution. Nutr Cycl Agroecosyst 105:103–116

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Magner N, Welker RB, Campbell TL (1996) Testing a model of cognitive budgetary participation processes in a latent variable structural equations framework. Accoun Busin Res 27:41–50

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mahboobi M, Ahmadigorji H (2017) The environmental attitude and using chemical toxins among rice growers (case study: Esfivard-shoorab Rural District, Sari County). J Human Environ 15:93–105 (in Persian with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Manyilizu WB, Mdegela RH, Helleve A, Skjerve E, Kazwala R, Nonga H, Muller MHB, Lie E, Lyche J (2017) Self-reported symptoms and pesticide use among farm workers in Arusha, Northern Tanzania: a cross sectional study. Toxics 5:24

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maroco J, Garcia-Marques T (2006) Qual a fiabilidade do alpha de Cronbach? Questões antigas e soluções modernas? Lab Psicol 4:65–90

    Google Scholar 

  • Moghaddam Fard ZH, Shams A (2016) Factors affecting pesticide consumption behavior of greenhouse owners in Zanjan Province. Iranian Agric Ext Educ J 12:119–131 (in Persian with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Mohanty MK, Behera BK, Jena SK, Srikanth S, Mogane C, Samal S, Behera AA (2013) Knowledge attitude and practice of pesticide use among agricultural workers in Puducherry, South India. J For Legal Med 20:1028–1031

    Google Scholar 

  • Mutengwe MT, Chidamba L, Korsten L (2016) Monitoring pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables at two of the biggest fresh produce markets in Africa. J Food Prot 79:1938–1945

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nunnally JC, Bernsten IH (1994) Psychometric theory. Mc Graw Hill, New York, USA

  • Omari S (2014) Assessing farmers’ knowledge of effects of agrochemical use on human health and the environment: a case study of Akuapem South Municipality, Ghana. Int J Appl Sci Engin Res 3:402–410

  • Omidi Najafabadi M, Mohammadi Z (2011) Factors affecting on greenhouse workers’ attitude towards pesticide use, a case study in Hashtgerd City, Iran. Ann Biol Res 2:165–174

    Google Scholar 

  • Ping RA (2004) On assuring valid measures for theoretical models using survey data. J Bus Res 57:125–141

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Preacher KJ, Leonardelli GL (2003) Calculation for the Sobel test: an interactive calculation tool for mediation tests. http://quantpsy.org/sobel/sobel.htm

  • Rafiei L, Sadighi H, Pezeshki-Rad G (2015) The role of knowledge, attitude and information sources of wheat farmers in accepting conservation tillage (case study of Arak County). Iranian J Agric Econ Dev Res 46:645–654

    Google Scholar 

  • Ríos-González A, Jansen K, Javier Sánchez-Pérez H (2013) Pesticide risk perceptions and the differences between farmers and extensionists: towards a knowledge-in-context model. Environ Res 124:43–53

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Robinson MA (2018) Using multi-item psychometric scales for research and practice in human resource management. Hum Resour Manag 57:739–750

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saeed MF, Shaheen M, Ahmad I, Zakir A, Nadeem M, Chishti AA, Shahid M, Bakhsh K, Damalas CA (2017) Pesticide exposure in the local community of Vehari District in Pakistan: an assessment of knowledge and residues in human blood. Sci Total Environ 587-588:137–144

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sankoh AI, Whittle R, Semple KT, Jones KC, Sweetman AJ (2016) An assessment of the impacts of pesticide use on the environment and health of rice farmers in Sierra Leone. Environ Int 94:458–466

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shams A, Vedadi E, Ahmadi Z (2015) Study of farmers’ attitude towards sustainable agriculture and its relation with their chemical input use in Asadabad Township. Iranian Agric Ext Educ J 11:97–210 (in Persian with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Sharafi K, Pirsaheb M, Maleki S, Arfaeinia H, Karimyan K, Moradi M, Safari Y (2018) Knowledge, attitude and practices of farmers about pesticide use, risks, and wastes; a cross-sectional study (Kermanshah, Iran). Sci Total Environ 645:509–517

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sharifzadeh MS, Abdollahzadeh G, Damalas CA, Rezaei R, Ahmadyousefi M (2019) Determinants of pesticide safety behavior among Iranian rice farmers. Sci Total Environ 651:2953–2960

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Van Mele P, Hai TV, Thas O, Van Huis A (2002) Influence of pesticide information sources on citrus farmers’ knowledge, perception and practices in pest management, Mekong Delta, Vietnam. Int J Pest Manag 48:169–177

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang J, Tao J, Yang C, Chu M, Lam H (2018) A general framework incorporating knowledge, risk perception and practices to eliminate pesticide residues in food: a structural equation modelling analysis based on survey data of 986 Chinese farmers. Food Control 80:143–150

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yilmaz V, Can Y (2020) Impact of knowledge, concern and awareness about global warming and global climatic change on environmental behavior. Environ Dev Sustain 22:6245–6260

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yuantari MG, Van Gestel CA, Van Straalen NM, Widianarko B, Sunoko HR, Shobib MN (2015) Knowledge, attitude, and practice of Indonesian farmers regarding the use of personal protective equipment against pesticide exposure. Environ Monit Assess 187:142

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Code availability

Not applicable

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran

    Abolmohammad Bondori, Asghar Bagheri & Mojtaba Sookhtanlou

  2. Department of Agricultural Development, Democritus University of Thrace, Orestiada, Greece

    Christos A. Damalas

Authors
  1. Abolmohammad Bondori
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Asghar Bagheri
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Mojtaba Sookhtanlou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Christos A. Damalas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

AB1 collected field data, conducted statistical analysis of data, and wrote the first draft in Persian language; AB2 conceptualized the study, supervised the methodology, validated the data, and wrote the original draft in English language; MS conducted statistical analysis of data; CAD validated the data, reviewed and edited the text, and prepared the final draft.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Asghar Bagheri or Christos A. Damalas.

Ethics declarations

Ethics approval

This is a research article following the ethical standard of the institution.

Consent to participate

Not applicable.

Consent for publication

Not applicable.

Competing interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

Additional information

Responsible Editor: Baojing Gu

Publisher’s note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Bondori, A., Bagheri, A., Sookhtanlou, M. et al. Modeling farmers’ intention for safe pesticide use: the role of risk perception and use of information sources. Environ Sci Pollut Res 28, 66677–66686 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-15266-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-15266-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation