WPS3776

# **HEALTH EFFECTS AND PESTICIDE PERCEPTION AS DETERMINANTS OF PESTICIDE USE: EVIDENCE FROM BANGLADESH**

Susmita Dasgupta* Craig Meisner _Development Economics Research Group The World Bank_ Mainul Huq _Development Policy Group Bangladesh_

**Abstract** - In a recent survey of 820 Boro (winter rice), potato, bean, eggplant, cabbage, sugarcane and mango farmers in Bangladesh, over 47% of farmers were found to be overusing pesticides.  With only 4% of farmers formally trained in pesticide use or handling, and over 87% openly admitting to using little or no protective measures while applying pesticides, overuse is potentially a very threatening problem to farmer health as well as the environment.

To model pesticide overuse, we used a 3-equation, trivariate probit framework with health effects and misperception of pesticide risk as endogenous dummy variables. Health effects (the 1<sup>st</sup> equation) were found to be strictly a function of the _amount of pesticides_ used in production, while misperception of pesticide risk (the 2<sup>nd</sup> equation) was determined by _health impairments_ from pesticides and the _toxicity of chemicals_ used. Pesticide overuse (the 3<sup>rd</sup> equation) was a significantly determined by variation in _income, farm ownership, the toxicity of chemicals used, crop composition_ and _geographical location_ .

The results highlight the necessity of policymakers to design effective and targeted outreach programs which deal specifically with pesticide risk, safe handling and averting behavior. Ideally, the approach would be participatory in nature to address key informational gaps, as well as increasing a farmers’ awareness retention. The results also point to specific crops and locations experiencing a higher prevalence of overuse - bean and eggplant in general, and overall production in the districts of _Chapainawabganj, Chittagong, Comilla, Jessore, Narshingdi, Rajshahi_ and _Rangpur_ . Focusing efforts in these crop and geographical areas may have the most measurable effects on pesticide overuse.

World Bank Policy Research Working Paper 3776, November 2005 _The Policy Research Working Paper Series disseminates the findings of work in progress to encourage the exchange of ideas about development issues. An objective of the series is to get the findings out quickly, even if the presentations are less than fully polished. The papers carry the names of the authors and should be cited accordingly. The findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed in this paper are entirely those of the authors. They do not necessarily represent the view of the World Bank, its Executive Directors, or the countries they represent. Policy Research Working Papers are available online at http://econ.worldbank.org._

* - The authors’ positions are, respectively, Senior Economist and Consultant, Development Research Group, World Bank (WB) and Consultant, Development Policy Group, Bangladesh. Financial support for this study has been provided by the World Bank’s Development Research Administration. Correspondence should be addressed to: Susmita Dasgupta, MC2-205, World Bank, 1818 H Street, NW, Washington, DC 20433, <u>sdasgupta@worldbank.org.</u>