Economic and Toxicological Aspects of Pesticide Management Practices: Empirical Evidence from Turkey

The aim of this study was to evaluate the economics and toxicological aspects of pesticide management practices for sustainable chickpea production. The results of this study demonstrated that the average usage of pesticides is 877.30 g per hectare as an active ingredient in the chickpea growing. The average usages per hectare of active ingredient of insecticides, fungicides, and herbicides were calculated to be 1.50 g, 638.80 g, and 237.00 g, respectively. Fungicides are the biggest pesticide group used with 72.81% of total weight of active ingredients. It was calculated that the crop protection cost was EUR 75.65 per hectare, having the portion of 12 % of average production cost. The study revealed that the most common pesticides used by the farmers in chickpea growing were moderately hazardous and non-acute hazard categories. Based on the results of this study, it is suggested that the government should carry out effective agro-environmental intervention policies and farmer extension programs should be aimed at balancing the amounts of pesticides used per hectare for the sustainable, dynamic environment and prevention of pesticide toxicity. Keywords: chickpea, pesticide practices, economic, toxicological, Turkey