China’s farmer perception
of pesticide residues and the
impact factors
The case of Jiangsu Province
Linhai Wu
Food Safety Research Base of Jiangsu Province, Jiangnan University,
Wuxi, China, and
Bo Hou
College of Food, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China and
College of Life Science and Chemical Engineering,
Hunan University of Science and Engineering, Yongzhou, China, and
Anhui University of Science and Engineering, Bengbu, Anhui, China
Abstract
Purpose – Pesticide residue is a stubborn problem affecting the quality and safety of agricultural
products in China, and has not yet been fundamentally resolved. The purpose of this paper is to study
farmers’ perception of pesticide residues, as well as the main factors affecting their perception from the
viewpoint of farmers. Additionally, this research attempts to explore the basic characteristics of
pesticide residues arising in the process of producing agricultural products under the prevailing policy
background, so as to provide decision-making references for the Chinese government to deepen the
security management system of agricultural products.
Design/methodology/approach – The structural equation model (SEM) is an analytical tool for the
observation and treatment of latent variables that are difficult to observe directly, and for the
consideration of inevitable errors. This paper investigates the main factors affecting farmers’
perception of pesticide residues in the investigated regions based on the SEM and samples of
241 farmers in six counties (cities and regions) of three districts in the Jiangsu Province of China.
Findings – According to the research, regional difference, farmers’ gender, age, years of education,
pesticide training and their own demand for safe agricultural products had different influences on their
perception of pesticide residues. Additionally, it was difficult to measure the influence of family
characteristics on farmers’ perception of pesticide residues. Although the present paper only shows a
preliminary study, its conclusion provides a reference value for the Chinese government to deepen the
reform of the quality and safety regulatory system of agricultural products.
Originality/value – There are many similar studies in overseas countries, but the application of
SEM in the study of the main factors affecting farmers’ perception of pesticide residues has not been
completely reported previously in domestic literatures. The research assumption of this paper has
practically verified that corresponding research conclusions of foreign scholars in this field have
universality in China.
Keywords China, Agriculture, Pesticides, Pesticide residue, Farmers, Perception, Affecting factors,
Structural equation model
Paper type Research paper
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at
www.emeraldinsight.com/1756-137X.htm
JEL classification – Q12, Q18
CAER
4,1
84
China Agricultural Economic Review
Vol. 4 No. 1, 2012
pp. 84-104
q Emerald Group Publishing Limited
1756-137X
DOI 10.1108/17561371211196793