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

- Chinese farmers had limited knowledge on pesticide residues.
- Perceived risk was characterized by worriedness to crop price rather than food safety.
- Both knowledge and perceived risk of pesticide residue promoted safer pesticide usage.
- Perceived risk mediated the relationship between knowledge and behavior.
- Government support outperformed regulation in promoting safer pesticide usage.

Following a variety of incidents in China relating to food poisoning due to the presence of pesticide residues, it is crucial to correct for farmers' unsafe and improper practices towards pesticide use. Although most studies have focused on the role of external stakeholders such as government extension agencies and pesticide retailers, the attention paid to farmers' intrinsic motivations is limited. This paper applies Structural Equation Modelling to investigate psychological motivational concepts such as farmers' knowledge and risk perception, their formation mechanisms and the underlying processes of these concepts that lead to farmers' practices to eliminate pesticide residues, based on a representative survey conducted with 986 Chinese farmers from 20 counties selected from six provinces. We found both a direct and significant effect of farmers' knowledge on pesticides residue on their safe pesticide practices and also an indirect effect, i.e. knowledge influences on risk perception which in turn enhances safe pesticide practices. It was also reported that government support strategies are more effective in promoting safe pesticide practices than government regulation.