What determines a sustained use of approved pesticides for cleaner production and its impact on yield? Evidence from the cocoa industry in Osun State, Nigeria

Due to various health issues connected to the use of pesticides, cleaner production is now necessary for the cocoa sector. The health of people is negatively impacted by the residues left in cocoa beans through a variety of active pesticide components, solvents, and other pollutants. Whereas, in developing countries, due to their economic, social, and cultural limitations, usage of approved pesticides has been low, which is due to many reasons which remain unknown. The study is concerned with identifying the factors that affect farmers' decisions to use approved pesticides and its sustained usage. About 200 cocoa farmers were selected for this study using a multistage sampling procedure. Descriptive statistics and the Cragg hurdle model were used to analyze the data. The descriptive results showed that 74% of cocoa farmers used approved pesticides, 10.5% of cocoa farmers used non-approved pesticides, and 15.5% of cocoa farmers combined both the approved and non-approved pesticides to control pests and diseases of cocoa on their fields. The first hurdle result of the double hurdle model showed that farmers’ age, years of schooling, and cocoa output significantly influence the decision to use approved pesticides. While in the second hurdle of the double hurdle model, farming experience, farm size, and cocoa output are significant in determining the continued use of approved pesticides. According to the findings of the study, the quantity of cocoa output mainly influences farmers' decisions to use approved pesticides and its continued usage. Therefore, measures aimed at boosting cocoa output will greatly aid in encouraging farmers to use approved pesticides to raise their incomes and living standards. Furthermore, the study recommends extension education to farmers on the use of approved pesticides and also to encourage its sustained usage.