Farmers' behaviour in the use of integrated pest management (IPM) practices: perspectives through the social practice theory

For many years, official agricultural policy efforts in Iran have focused on promoting the adoption of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices among farmers. Despite the major advantages of this system for human health and the environment, the adoption rate and implementation of IPM practices at the farm level has been slow. This study explores factors influencing farmers' behaviour in the use of IPM practices, based on an expanded version of the Social Practice Theory (SPT). A sample of 325 tomato farmers in 30 villages of Golestan province in northeastern Iran participated in the study. The adoption of IPM practices among tomato farmers was less than average. The most common IPM practices adopted by the farmers were some simple and well-known practices such as collection and removal of contaminated parts of the plant and using resistant cultivars. Using factor analysis, four large groups of items were identified as key SPT constructs, i.e. materials (tools, technologies and infrastructure), competences (knowledge, skills, and abilities), meanings (values and commitments) and institutional support (support from government, local institution and market supply chain) for the use of IPM practices. Multiple linear analysis showed that the total effects of materials (& beta; = 0.190), competences (& beta; = 0.214), institutional supports (& beta; = 0.324), education (& beta; = 0.258) and tomato growing income (& beta;=-0.102) on the use of IPM practices were significant. Thus, the SPT framework was found to be a useful tool for explaining farmers' adoption of IPM practices. Further design of IPM development programs should be based on a holistic approach, which must supply materials, enhance competence and improve commitment of local and national institutions to provide requirements for use of IPM practices at farm level.