Asigbaase Michael, Abugre Simon, Banowiiri Mary, Akutteh Josephine
Department of Forest Sciences University of Energy and Natural Resources Box 214 Sunyani Ghana.
Glob Chall. 2025 Jul 17;9(8):e00045. doi: 10.1002/gch2.202500045. eCollection 2025 Aug.
The use of organic pesticides to reduce insect and disease infestations and boost agricultural productivity can minimize the health and environmental costs of synthetic pesticides. However, adoption remains slow, and barriers and drivers influencing their uptake among cocoa farmers across different ecological zones are unclear. Grounded in the Diffusion of Innovations Theory, this study investigated perceptions, drivers, barriers, and strategies to enhance organic pesticide adoption among cocoa farmers in two ecological zones. A mixed-methods approach is employed, collecting data from 450 farmers in eight cocoa-growing communities through questionnaire-led interviews. Data are analyzed using linear mixed-effects regression, probit regression, ANOVA, Chi-Square, and thematic analysis. Findings revealed that adopters have a 7%-32% more favorable perception of the environmental and health benefits of organic pesticides, influencing their adoption. Farm characteristics, farming experience, incomes, land tenure, and ecological zone significantly influenced adoption. Non-adopters cited barriers such as high transportation costs, offensive odors, and limited information access. Suggested strategies to enhance adoption included capacity building, financial incentives, improved product availability, institutional support, and awareness campaigns. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to address demographic and socio-economic barriers and promote organic pesticide use. Future research should explore longitudinal impacts on productivity and soil health.
使用有机农药来减少病虫害侵扰并提高农业生产率，可以将合成农药对健康和环境造成的成本降至最低。然而，有机农药的采用速度仍然缓慢，而且不同生态区域的可可种植农户采用有机农药的相关障碍和驱动因素尚不明晰。基于创新扩散理论，本研究调查了两个生态区域可可种植农户对有机农药的认知、驱动因素、障碍以及提高有机农药采用率的策略。研究采用了混合方法，通过问卷调查访谈从八个可可种植社区的450名农户收集数据。使用线性混合效应回归、概率回归、方差分析、卡方检验和主题分析对数据进行分析。研究结果显示，采用有机农药的农户对有机农药在环境和健康方面的益处的认知更为积极，高出7%至32%，这影响了他们对有机农药的采用。农场特征、种植经验、收入、土地保有形式和生态区域对有机农药的采用有显著影响。未采用有机农药的农户列举了一些障碍，如运输成本高、气味难闻以及获取信息有限。建议的提高采用率的策略包括能力建设、财政激励、改善产品供应、机构支持和宣传活动。这些研究结果凸显了采取针对性干预措施以消除人口和社会经济障碍并促进有机农药使用的必要性。未来的研究应探讨对生产率和土壤健康的长期影响。
