Factors contributing to overuse of pesticides in western China

As one of the world's largest producers and consumers of pesticides, China faces a range of environmental and public health threats through long-term overuse of these chemicals. This study suggests a number of key factors contributing to pesticide overuse in rural China, which are examined by means of a literature review and a field survey among farming households, local officials and consumers in western China's Yunnan and Guizhou provinces. The authors conclude that, in addition to the traditionally targeted gaps in technical knowledge, there are a number of sociological and political factors contributing to pesticide overuse, which require closer attention. A number of potential solutions are proposed as a reference point for policy-makers and researchers in this field.