Safety of vegetables and the use of pesticides by farmers in China: Evidence from Zhejiang province

In China there are great challenges to ensure the safety of vegetables, as highly toxic pesticides, which are more than likely to cause high pesticide residues in vegetables [Zhang, Y., Ma. J., Kong. X., & Zhu. Y. (2004). Factors that affect farmers' adoption of non-pollution and green pesticides: Empirical analysis based oil data from 15 Countries (cities) in Shanxi, Shaanxi and Shandong province. Chinese Rural Economy, 1, 41 49], are still used in the production of vegetables by vegetable farmers. Based on a Survey of 507 vegetable farmers front Zhejiang Province, this Study attempted to identify and control the vegetable farmers who were at risk of spraying highly toxic pesticides onto vegetables in China. We found that farmers who were older and less educated and unspecialized vegetable farmers were more likely to use highly toxic pesticides. Our statistical results also indicated that vegetable farmers who received less training and selected handlers as their marketing channel had a tendency to apply highly toxic pesticides, whereas cooperative members were less likely to use these pesticides. Finally, vegetable farmers who had a poor understanding of vegetable safety issues were more likely to use highly toxic pesticides. Policy implications to control the use of highly toxic pesticides and ensure the safety of vegetables in China are discussed. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.