Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.3390/agronomy11112208
Licence creative commons licence
Title (Primary) Ecological engineering for rice insect pest management: The need to communicate widely, improve farmers’ ecological literacy and policy reforms to sustain adoption
Author Heong, K.-L.; Lu, Z.-X.; Chien, H.-V.; Escalada, M.; Settele, J.; Zhu, Z.-R.; Cheng, J.-A.
Source Titel Agronomy
Year 2021
Department NSF
Volume 11
Issue 11
Page From art. 2208
Language englisch
Topic T5 Future Landscapes
Keywords ecological engineering; entertainment-education; adoption; sustainability; rice insect pest management; rice farmers; pesticide marketing; policy reform; ecosystem services
Abstract Ecological engineering (EE) involves the design and management of human systems based on ecological principles to maximize ecosystem services and minimize external inputs. Pest management strategies have been developed but farmer adoption is lacking and unsustainable. EE practices need to be socially acceptable and it requires shifts in social norms of rice farmers. In many countries where pesticides are being marketed as “fast moving consumer goods” (FMCG) it is a big challenge to shift farmers’ loss-averse attitudes. Reforms in pesticide marketing policies are required. An entertainment education TV series was able to reach wider audience to improve farmers’ ecological literacy, shifting beliefs and practices. To sustain adoption of ecologically based practices organizational structures, incentives systems and communication strategies to support the new norms and practices are needed.
Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=25296
Heong, K.-L., Lu, Z.-X., Chien, H.-V., Escalada, M., Settele, J., Zhu, Z.-R., Cheng, J.-A. (2021):
Ecological engineering for rice insect pest management: The need to communicate widely, improve farmers’ ecological literacy and policy reforms to sustain adoption
Agronomy-Basel 11 (11), art. 2208 10.3390/agronomy11112208