Citation

Tambo JA, Holmes K, Aliamo C, Mbugua F, Alokit C, Muzira F, Byamugisha A, Mwambu P. Pest Manag. Sci. 2024; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2024, Society of Chemical Industry, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1002/ps.8359

PMID

39118391

Abstract

BACKGROUND: While pesticides are essential for crop protection and food security, they pose serious risks to human health and the environment. Agro-input dealers can play an important role in mitigating pesticide risks, given that they are a major source of pesticides and plant health information for many developing-country farmers. In this article, we assess the willingness of agro-input dealers to offer integrated pest management-based advisory services and promote pesticide risk reduction through a voluntary certification scheme.

RESULTS: Using survey data from 557 agro-input dealers in Uganda and a discrete choice experiment, we find that the proposed certification scheme is significantly valued by agro-input dealers, particularly for its potential to provide training opportunities and ensure safety to human health and the environment. Agro-input dealers have a positive attitude towards a certification scheme that restricts the sale of high-risk pesticide products, especially if it stimulates additional income-generating opportunities. Further analysis shows that preferences for voluntary certification attributes are influenced by certification experience, agro-dealership experience, business ownership status and incidence of acute pesticide poisoning.

CONCLUSION: The study findings demonstrate that agro-input dealers are conscious of pesticide risks to human and environmental health and are keen to participate in a certification scheme promoting safer plant protection products. © 2024 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Language: en

Keywords

agro‐input dealers; certification; environmental sustainability; integrated pest management; pesticide