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Asian Journal of Agriculture and Development (AJAD) - Call for papers!

Impact of Integrated Pest Management Program on Pesticide Demand of Food Crops in Yogyakarta.

(Indonesia), Master of Science in Agricultural Economics (Gadjah Mada University)

Abstract:

 

Pesticide is one of the inputs used in rice production. The benefit of pesticide is in reducing yield loss caused by pest attack. However, since pesticide is a toxic agent, it also causes externalities such as environmental pollution and threat to human health. The Government of Indonesia has changed its policy in plant protection by removing pesticide subsidy and introducing new technology in order to reduce pesticide use in the agricultural sector. The policy is called integrated pest management (IPM) program. The objective of this research was to determine the impact of IPM program on pesticide use in rice and soybean.

Regional demand of pesticide and supply of rice and soybean functions were used for determining the impact of IPM technology dissemination. Demand on pesticide and supply of rice and soybean describe the social benefit of pesticide and the social cost of rice production, respectively. The research was conducted in Yogyakarta province, which has four districts, namely: Sleman, Bantul, Gunung Kidul, and Kulon Progo. Estimating demand and supply functions using time series data from 1989 to 1998 were polled by district. Data were obtained from related institutions. Estimation was done by employing ordinary least square (OLS) procedure.

The results of the study indicated that pesticide use in rice and soybean declined. The reduction of pesticide use was caused by the rising price of pesticides as a consequence of removing pesticide subsidy, and dissemination of IPM technology.

IPM technology could reduce pesticide use in rice and soybean without reducing production. If pesticide use is reduced, the externality decreases too. The reduction of externality will cause the pesticide use in rice and soybean, and the production of rice and soybean to close by socially optimal level. It could be said that IPM technology dissemination has brought food crops production in Yogyakarta to a sustainable condition.