Non-market health cost assessment of pesticide use

Abstract

This research work aims to assess non market health cost of pesticide use in the agricultural sector. For this purpose, the contingent valuation method (CVM) is applied to estimate farmers’ willingness to pay (WTP) to avoid health risk of pesticide in the Souss-Massa region. The willingness to pay is taken as an indirect health cost of pesticide. A telephonic survey was carried out with 100 farmers in the study area. The results of this analysis revealed that age, education level and risk perception has a positive effect on farmer’s willingness to pay for safer pesticides. Results show that farmers are willing to pay 14% of current pesticide expenditure. The average willingness to pay was estimated at 1280 Dirham (Dh) per hectare per year. In conclusion, the non-market health costs related to pesticide use in the Souss-Massa region are about 577,491 Millions Dh per year.

Keywords: Pesticides, health costs, contingent valuation method, willingness to pay, Souss-Massa