An Empirical Study On Farmers' Decision Making Pattern In The Process Of Diffusion Of Bio-pesticide

Title of thesis: An Empirical Study on Farmers' Decision Making Pattern in the Process ofDiffusion of Bio-pesticide--A Case Study on Bio-pesticide Adoption by Farmers in SuburbanYangzhou; Author: Xu Jian; Supervisor: Gao Qijie; Specialty: Crop production; Field of research: Rural Development; College: College of Humanities and Development; Application Data: April 2004.Based on the investigation of the diffusion process of bio-pesticide in suburban Yangzhou, Jiangsu province, the farmers' decision-making patterns are analyzed. The factors influencing farmers' decision-making and the promotion mechanisms improving farmers' decision behavior are also studied, and following results are obtained.Conclusions:1 In the extension process of bio-pesticide, farmers' decision-making is limited rational. Although fanners do not maximize the private-profit from the process absolutely, they have to pursue a relative maximization of the benefit, which, in fact, means minimizing the relative loss.2 The benefit of bio-pesticide adoption consists of economic benefit and social benefit. Compared with chemical control, adoption of bio-pesticide can't increase the gain of local farmers. To improve the decision-making of adoption, farmer's benefit of adoption of bio-pesticide shall be increased.3 The promotion mechanisms for bio-pesticide extension are effective and necessary to promote farmers' adoption behavior of bio-pesticide, which included two parts: compelling and incentive.Recommendations:Government shall exert their macro-regulation to establish more efficient promotion mechanisms for bio-pesticide adoption, and to support the innovation in bio-pesticide research and production to improve the control effect. Providing more training and advisory services for farmer to accelerate the extension of bio-pesticide.