PENGELOLAAN PENGGUNAAN PESTISIDA DALAM MENDUKUNG PEMBANGUNAN BERKELANJUTAN DI INDONESIA

<p><em>The use of pesticides in rice production has an impact on the environment. Pesticides are chemicals used to kill or control pests. The use of pesticides carries some risks, but farmers are used to using pesticides. However, the use of pesticides may lead to the contamination of groundwater. Therefore, the research question in this study was whether there any differences in rice production before and after pesticide reduction in Indonesia. This study aimed to analyze the difference between rice production before and after pesticide reduction in Indonesia. The secondary data in this study were rice production data from FAO. Data from 1968 to 1992 were data about rice production before reducing pesticide use in Indonesia, while data from 1993 to 2017 were data about rice production after reducing pesticide use in Indonesia. The applied data analysis was paired sample t-test using SPSS 25. The results indicated that there is a significant difference between rice production before and after reducing pesticide use in Indonesia. </em></p>

Environmental and human health at risk – scenarios to achieve the EU’s 50% pesticide reduction goals.

The recently released Farm to Fork Strategy sets, for the first time ever, pesticide reduction goals at the EU level: 50% reduction in overall use and risk of chemical pesticides and 50% use reduction of more hazardous pesticides. However, little guidance is provided to achieve these targets. In this study, we compiled the characteristics and recommended application rates of 230 EU approved, synthetic, open-field use active substances and explored the potential of eight pesticide reduction scenarios (defined based on application rates, pesticide type, persistence, and hazard) to achieve the reduction goals. Our approach revealed that all 230 substances are potentially harmful to humans or ecosystems, and that only severe pesticide use restrictions such as full conversion to organic farming or allowing only low hazard substances will result in 50% reductions. Our results emphasis the need of an EC action plan on how to achieve and maintain the aimed reduction levels.

Farmers’ Willingness as Well as Its Compensation Strategy to Prevent and Control Agricultural Non-Point Source Pollution in Water Source Areas-Based on a Comparative Analysis of Pesticide and Fertilizer Inputs

This paper took the voluntary pesticide and fertilizer reduction ratios of the farmers as the substitute variables for farmers' willingness to prevent and control the agricultural non-point source pollution. Then, the paper adopted an improved double-bounded dichotomous choice (DBDC) to obtain farmers’ voluntary pesticide and fertilizer reduction ratios and the corresponding compensation attitudes of the farmers. The research found that, in contrast to fertilizers, pesticides are a stronger output-related factor for farmers, and any reduction in pesticides would cause great output fluctuations. After the influencing factors of the farmers’ compensation attitude towards pesticide and fertilizer reduction were subject to ordinal regression analysis, the main influencing factors of farmers’ compensation attitude towards fertilizer and pesticide reduction were obtained respectively, which had further proved that for farmers, compared with pesticides, the risk of fertilizer reduction is lower, and their attitudes are quite different, but as long as the compensation is sufficient, they are willing to take more stringent measures.

Determinants and overuse of pesticides in grain production

Purpose The negative externalities of pesticide overuse increasingly concern the public. However, little empirical evidence has been provided for pesticide overuse and the relationship between the governmental agricultural extension system reforms and pesticide use in grain production from a nationwide perspective. The purpose of this paper is to estimate the productive effect and overuse of pesticides, and it also investigates the effect of the governmental agricultural extension system reforms on pesticide expenditure in rice, maize and wheat production in China. Design/methodology/approach A two-equation system model consisting of an exponential-specific damage-control production function and a pesticide use function is applied to the provincial-level data during the period 1985–2016. Findings While pesticide expenditure significantly increases grain productivity, the actual pesticide expenditure exceeds the economically optimal level. The commercialization reform of the governmental agricultural extension system contributed to the increase in pesticide expenditure. Moreover, the de-commercialization reform of the governmental agricultural extension system plays a limited role in pesticide reduction. Price fluctuations for grain and pesticide also impose significant effects on pesticide expenditure. Originality/value This study has two important policy implications for pesticide reduction in China. It is urgent to specify the functions of the governmental agricultural extension system, and encourage the development of the socialized agricultural technology service. More efforts should also be made to remove the bureaucratic intervention on the pricing mechanism of grain product and pesticide.

Whitefly Control Strategies against Tomato Leaf Curl New Delhi Virus in Greenhouse Zucchini

(1) Background: Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus (ToLCNDV), transmitted by tobacco whitefly (Bemisia tabaci Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), is of major concern in the cultivation of zucchini. The threat of this virus motivates reliance on chemical vector control but European consumers’ demands for vegetables grown free of pesticides provides an important incentive for alternative pest management; (2) Methods: Different whitefly management strategies and ToLCNDV incidences were surveyed in commercial zucchini greenhouses in south-east Spain. In an experimental greenhouse, three different whitefly control strategies, biological, chemical, and integrated (IPM), were evaluated in a replicated trial to determine the most effective strategy for virus suppression (3) Results: Whitefly was present in all commercial zucchini crops surveyed, whereas fewer crops had Amblyseius swirskii or other natural enemies. During three consecutive years, pest management was increasingly based on chemical treatments. Yet, ToLCNDV was widespread in zucchini greenhouses. Experimental results showed that the order of best strategy for virus suppressing was integrated management (73%) > biological control (58%) > chemical control (44%); and (4) Conclusions: IPM was the best strategy for virus suppression. The results can assist in the design of appropriate control strategies for chemical pesticide reduction and decision-making in pest management.