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Pesticides and Rice Productivity in the Hanoi Province, Red River Delta, North Vietnam
Thesis Abstract:
This study attempted to estimate the productivity of pesticides and to characterize the groups of farmers who use high and low levels of pesticides. It also aimed to compare the levels of pesticide use by the farmers who applied calendar and as needed methods of spraying as well as farmers with different levels of education.
The study was conducted in Hanoi Province, Red River Delta. Three hundred ninety households were chosen in two districts of the province.
The marginal productivity of pesticides was estimated from changes of production curve with constant level of infestation assumption. Results showed that the marginal product of insecticide was negative for all cases. This means that the use of insecticides was not efficient and most insecticide applications were not necessary. The average marginal product of fungicide was +0.180, but the level of fungicide use was low (87.85g a.i. per ha).
A stochastic frontier production function was estimated using the Maximum Likelihood Estimation (MLE) method. Allocative efficiency of fungicides was calculated for each farm. Results showed that on the average, fungicide use of the farmers who had positive marginal productivity of fungicides was efficient. However, there were some farmers who overuse fungicides.
Results showed that the levels of pesticide used by the farmers who applied calendar and combination methods of spraying were significantly higher than those who applied as needed method of spraying. In the study area, farmers practiced chemical (i.e., pesticides), physical, and cultural controls for pest management. However, most of the farmers still believed that pesticide was the only way to control pest effectively. Only 7 percent of samples were IPM farmers. Therefore, training courses on IPM are necessary in the coming years.
Education was one of the important factors affecting the level of pesticide use. After certain level of education, the more educated farmers used less amount of pesticide than less educated farmers. Results from the logistic analysis showed that increased years of schooling would significantly reduce fungicide overuse by the farmers.
Insect- and disease-resistant varieties were found to be important factors in decreasing the level of pesticide use by the farmers. The levels of pesticide used by farmers who used resistant varieties were significantly lower than those who did not use resistant varieties. Therefore, better supply of good seeds is necessary for pest control, and for increasing rice production in the study area.