Pesticide overuse in apple production and its socioeconomic determinants: Evidence from Shaanxi and Shandong provinces, China

Pesticides play a fundamental role in pest control and disease prevention during fruit production; however, growers have long faced accusations of excessive use, which can adversely affect food safety, the environment, and human health. Despite rising concern about pesticide overuse in fruit production, rigorous evidence on the extent to which farmers overuse pesticides in apple production and the underlying reasons for doing so is scant. Using data collected from 452 apple farms in Shaanxi and Shandong provinces in 2017, we employ the damage control Cobb–Douglas production function to estimate pesticide overuse in apple production. We also examine the determinants of pesticide overuse, with a focus on the impact of farmers’ attitudes toward risk. We find that 70.6% of apple farms engage in excessive pesticide use, with farmers that have higher risk aversion more likely to overuse pesticides. Orchard size and the age of apple trees also play important roles in determining the extent of pesticide application. Pesticide use in apple production could be reduced by implementing policies promoting crop insurance, enlarging land size, and regulating pesticide prices.