Modeling vegetable farmers’ intention to use pesticides in central Nepal: An extended version of the planned behavior theory

• Published in: Environmental challenges (Amsterdam, Netherlands) Netherlands), 2025-04, Vol.18, p.101084, Article 101084
• Main Authors: Sapkota, Utkal, Bhandari, Govinda, Sapkota, Mandira, Khanal, Sneha, Poudel, Asmita, Khanal, Dipak, Pokhrel, Min Raj, Damalas, Christos A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agriculture; Behavioral intention; Crop protection; Pesticides; Theory of planned behavior
• ISSN: 2667-0100; 2667-0100
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envc.2025.101084

•Banned pesticides such as methyl parathion were used in the study area.•Perceived behavioral control had the highest positive impact on intention.•Knowledge positively impacted moral norms, subjective norms, and attitude.•Agricultural extension programs covering a broad range of stakeholders are recommended. A study was conducted in the ‘Vegetable Zone’ of Dhading District, Nepal, employing an extended model of the theory of planned behavior (TPB) to identify the factors behind commercial vegetable farmers' intention to use chemical pesticides. We administered a structured questionnaire in-person to a sample of 510 farmers using multistage stratified random sampling. TPB constructs viz. attitude (positive/negative evaluation), subjective norms (perceived social pressure), perceived behavioral control (perceived ease or difficulty), knowledge, and moral norms had significant positive correlation with intention. Structural equation modeling (SEM) revealed perceived behavioral control as the major influencing factor determining pesticide use intention, while subjective norms and knowledge showed a relatively high impact towards intention followed by attitude. In turn, knowledge, subjective norms, and attitudes had a significantly positive and direct effect on perceived behavioral control. Knowledge also had a positive and direct effect on all aforementioned constructs. Although moral norms had a negative effect on intention, they exhibited a stronger positive effect on farmers' attitudes. Hence, our results highlighted the fundamental roles of perceived behavioral control, subjective norms, knowledge, and attitudes in shaping farmers' pesticide use intention. In addition, highly toxic and banned pesticides with unsafe practices were still used in the area and related health hazards were reported. To improve the farmers’ perceived control over chemical pesticide use, government should prioritize alternative methods and develop farmers’ skills to utilize them. Awareness and educational programs, monitoring of pesticide regulations, and building closer tie between experts and farmers is urgent, all of which could foster cleaner production methods, enhancing public and environmental health. [Display omitted]