Abstract This paper addresses the conditions and mechanisms that sustain pesticide use by Cambodian rice farmers and constrain a transition to more sustainable pest control practices. We analyzed data from a survey of individual farmers (N = 320), focus group discussions with farmer groups, and interviews with input sellers, rat hunters and local extension agents. Our findings show that farmers mix different types (e.g. herbicides and insecticides) and brands of pesticides in one application. Other chemicals, in particular ‘growth activators’ are often added to these mixes. The interaction patterns and financial arrangements among farmers, pesticide sellers, and laborers promote or sustain these practices. Increasing returns to information and recursive social interaction at the community level thus create a lock-in situation for pesticide use. These findings have direct implications on targeting interventions, which are often aimed at providing knowledge to government extension agents and farmers. Our results suggest that farmers’ knowledge on pest management is not the only driver for their decisions and practices. A broader scope of intervention in communication and feedback loops between stakeholders directly interacting with farmers can help to diversify the suite of recommendations while providing a balance in the information that reaches farmers. Changes in these social arrangements and informal rules may be required to affect positive changes in rice pest management.

中文翻译：

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柬埔寨水稻种植村的利益相关者互动如何导致农药锁定？

摘要 本文讨论了柬埔寨稻农维持农药使用的条件和机制，并限制了向更可持续的害虫防治实践的过渡。我们分析了来自单个农民（N = 320）的调查、与农民团体的焦点小组讨论以及与投入品销售商、捕鼠者和当地推广代理的访谈的数据。我们的研究结果表明，农民在一次施用中混合使用不同类型（例如除草剂和杀虫剂）和品牌的杀虫剂。其他化学品，尤其是“生长活化剂”，通常会添加到这些混合物中。农民、农药销售商和劳工之间的互动模式和财务安排促进或维持了这些做法。增加社区层面的信息回报和循环社会互动，从而造成农药使用的锁定情况。这些发现对定向干预有直接影响，这些干预通常旨在向政府推广人员和农民提供知识。我们的结果表明，农民对虫害管理的了解并不是他们决策和实践的唯一驱动因素。在与农民直接互动的利益相关者之间的沟通和反馈循环中进行更广泛的干预，有助于使建议多样化，同时在到达农民的信息中提供平衡。可能需要改变这些社会安排和非正式规则，以影响水稻病虫害管理的积极变化。我们的结果表明，农民对虫害管理的了解并不是他们决策和实践的唯一驱动因素。在与农民直接互动的利益相关者之间的沟通和反馈循环中进行更广泛的干预，有助于使建议多样化，同时在到达农民的信息中提供平衡。可能需要改变这些社会安排和非正式规则，以影响水稻病虫害管理的积极变化。我们的结果表明，农民对虫害管理的了解并不是他们决策和实践的唯一驱动因素。在与农民直接互动的利益相关者之间的沟通和反馈循环中进行更广泛的干预，有助于使建议多样化，同时在到达农民的信息中提供平衡。可能需要改变这些社会安排和非正式规则，以影响水稻病虫害管理的积极变化。