Importance of sustainable use of pesticides: The case of pear production in Bursa, Turkey

Abstract

This study aims to address importance sustainable pesticide use and its effect on the economic sustainability of farms. Excessive or improper pesticide use has negative effects not only on the environmental but also on the social and economic sustainability of farms. The adoption of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) by farmers is crucial for sustainable pesticide use. IPM provides the opportunity to reduce pesticide use, reducing costs for the farmer, as well as increasing on-farm and off-farm sustainability.This study was conducted to analyze the farm-level pesticide use in conventional pear growing areas in Bursa province of Turkey. Data were collected from 34 farms which grow mainly pear, using the purposive sampling method because of the lack of record-keeping.The results of this study reveal that the average usage of pesticides is 7,394 g/da as an active ingredient in pear production. It has been calculated that the over use of pesticides amounted to 22% of the average cost of pesticide per decare in pear production in Bursa province. The additional pesticide and labor cost associated with the use of pesticides more than the recommended dose was determined as 45.85 (sic)/da.Dissemination of IPM applications will create significant opportunities for sustainable agriculture due to the use of sustainable pesticides.