Quantifying the effects of pest pressure and peer networks on pesticide purchasing decisions among Thai farmers

The intensive use of pesticides poses a challenge to Thailand's rice sector, which is highly dependent on chemical inputs. The study employs the Social-Ecological Systems (SES) framework, grounded in a quantitative empirical analysis. Binary logistic regression was used to model the drivers of pesticide purchasing by 192 farmers in Suphan Buri Province. Our analysis reveals that the interplay between ecological pressures and social norms drives pesticide adoption. Pest pressure represents the primary proximate driver of procurement (OR = 1.73), though its impact is reinforced by significant social mediation (OR = 1.37). Data reveal that a distrust of formal extension services amplifies this reliance on social networks. While heightened health risk awareness acts as a notable deterrent (OR = 0.61), its effect is often counteracted by higher on-farm income and advanced age, which entrench pesticide dependency. These findings reveal that pesticide reliance is not a matter of discrete individual choices but rather is a complex interplay of factors. The researchers propose policy initiatives to recalibrate subsidy frameworks, institutionalize peer-led extension platforms, and advance culturally resonant health risk communication. Adopting this approach contributes to advancing debates on sustainable agroecological transitions in middle-income countries.