Analysis of Factors influencing adoption of IPM practices in apple orchards in Urmia: Application of Generalized Poisson Regression Model

Due to the benefits of integrated pest management and its environmental approach, this method is now strongly emphasized as one of the components of sustainable agricultural development. The main purpose of this study is to determine the factors affecting the adoption of integrated pest management practices in apple orchards in Urmia.

In this study, the Poisson regression model and generalized form were used and the required data was collected through a questionnaire from apple farms in Urmia county. For this purpose, using proportional stratified random sampling method, information of 350 apple orchardists was gathered.

Estimates of the generalized Poisson model showed that environmental perspectives index, levels of education, income, membership of local cooperatives, apple cultivation area, participation in advanced courses in apple production, knowledge of IPM and the years of IPM adoption has a positive and significant impact on the extension of IPM practices. In contrast, the index of difficulty in the adoption of integrated pest management practices has a negative and significant effect.

The results confirm that gardeners pay special attention to agricultural sustainability and environmental protection when conducting IPM projects. Therefore, the Ministry of Jihad-Agriculture can support the development of the sustainability of the local agriculture by raising awareness of integrated pest management practices among farmers and providing targeted training as well as increasing the adoption of this method.