Pesticide use in cereal production in Moghan Plain, Iran: Risk knowledge and farmers' attitudes

Cereal cultivation, mainly of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and maize (Zea mays L.), occupies a large area in Moghan Plain, Iran, with frequent use of pesticides, but research pertaining to pesticide use and farmers' attitudes in the area is scarce. The main objective of the present study was to analyze farmers' knowledge of pesticide hazards and use of information sources regarding pesticide use in cereal production in Moghan Plain in northwestern Iran for better understanding what drives farmers' attitudes in pesticide use. To this end, a survey of 400 farmers was conducted. Pesticide use mainly concerned the most common herbicides used in cereal production in the area (2,4-D and MCPA), the most common fungicides used in wheat (mancozeb and propiconazole), and the most common insecticides used in maize (indoxacarb and chlorpyrifos). The surveyed farmers appeared divided, with almost half (49.2%) having rather negative attitude towards pesticide use and the other half (50.8%) exhibiting rather positive attitude. Experienced farmers and farmers with large cultivated land showed more positive attitude towards pesticide use. More than half of the farmers (53.0%) had rather weak knowledge of pesticide hazards, whereas one fifth (19.5%) had good knowledge. Retailers of agricultural inputs were the first priority of farmers among information sources, followed by neighboring farmers and personal experience. Structural equation modeling (SEM) showed a positive relationship between farmers' knowledge of pesticide hazards (causal impact 0.84) as well as farmers' use of information sources (causal impact 0.52) with their attitudes towards the use of pesticides. Data provide novel information on the role of risk knowledge in farmers' attitudes towards the use of pesticides and extends existing information on the role of farmers' use of information sources in decisions for pesticide use. Improving farmers' knowledge of pesticide risk and providing valid sources of information are fundamental for minimizing pesticide overuse in cereal production in Moghan Plain, Iran.