Small-scale farmers’ willingness to adopt chemical-free inputs and engage in collaborative arrangements –A discrete choice experiment in Central Mexico

Authors

  • Sergio Colin Castillo Centro de Investigaciones Socioeconómicas (CISE), Universidad Autónoma de Coahuila. Mexico
  • Naím Manríquez García Centro de Investigaciones Socioeconómicas (CISE), Universidad Autónoma de Coahuila. Mexico
  • Adan L. Martinez-Cruz Department of forest economics, and Centre for environmental and resource Economics (CERE), Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU). Department of economics, Centro de Investigación y Docencia Economicas (CIDE), Mexico City, Mexico

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18381/eq.v19i2.7254

Keywords:

Chemical-free inputs, collaborative arrangements, discrete choice experiment, latent class logit, small-scale farmers, Mexico.

Abstract

Objetive: Explore small-scale Mexican farmers’ willingness to adopt chemical-free fertilizers and pesticides, and to engage in two collaborative arrangements.   Methodology: A discrete choice experiment has been designed based on two non-monetary attributes (use/no use of chemical inputs and two collaborative arrangements) and a monetary attribute (percentage change in price of crop that generates most of net revenues). Data has been analyzed with a two-class latent class logit specification.   Findings: 60% of respondents is not willing to transition to a chemical-free input regime, is willing to receive management support from municipality, and is not interested in a shared insurance. On the opposite side of the preferences, 40% of respondents is willing to adopt chemical-free inputs, is not interested in management support, and is willing to participate in a shared insurance.    Limitations: Our sample is not nationally representative, and further studies are needed to corroborate and generalize our findings.   Contribution: This is the first study exploring whether preferences of small-scale farmers in Mexico align with Federal government’s goal of phasing out glyphosate.   Conclusions: With 40% of small-scale farmers willing to adopt chemical-free inputs, if the Federal government wants to convice the other 60% of phasing out glyphosate, a possibility is to implement a slower strategy that starts with providing management support. Once management support is in place, and trust is gained, doors may open for a transition to chemical-free production regimes.

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Published

2022-06-30

How to Cite

Colin Castillo, S. ., Manríquez García, N. ., & Martinez-Cruz, A. L. (2022). Small-scale farmers’ willingness to adopt chemical-free inputs and engage in collaborative arrangements –A discrete choice experiment in Central Mexico. EconoQuantum, 19(2), 1–20. https://doi.org/10.18381/eq.v19i2.7254