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Agricultural technical education and agrochemical use by rice farmers in China
Author(s) -
Ying Ruiyao,
Zhou Li,
Hu Wuyang,
Pan Dan
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
agribusiness
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.57
H-Index - 43
eISSN - 1520-6297
pISSN - 0742-4477
DOI - 10.1002/agr.21508
Subject(s) - agrochemical , agriculture , agricultural extension , china , econlit , business , agricultural economics , agricultural education , citizen journalism , agricultural science , marketing , economics , computer science , political science , environmental science , geography , archaeology , medline , world wide web , law
Abstract Using participatory approaches and experimental economic methods, this paper analyzes the impacts of different types of agricultural technical education on farmers’ agrochemical use in China. Agricultural technical education is differentiated as training through a short course and additional personal guidance both offered through agricultural extension agencies. Results show that training alone may generate the desired result of reducing fertilizer usage. However, additional personal guidance does not support the intended goal of reducing the application of either fertilizer or pesticide. This study also detects technology diffusion effect in that farmers who are not offered education but are in the same village where the education programs are offered are more likely to change their behavior. Implications of this study call for better supervision and implementation of agricultural extension efforts in China. [EconLit citations: Q12, Q16, Q52]