Does organizational participation affect farmers' behavior in adopting the joint mechanism of pest and disease control? A study of Meixian County, Shaanxi Province.

BACKGROUND In China, there are a lack of well-established relationships regarding farmers' behavior and participation in farmer organizations. The main objective of this study was to explore the effects and mechanisms of organizational participation in the joint control of pest and disease among kiwifruit growers (within the members of organizations). To fulfill this objective, the present study utilized survey data from 577 kiwifruit growers collected from Meixian County, Shaanxi Province, China. A combined method utilizing the instrumental variable (IV) ordered probit and bootstrap multiple mediation effect models were employed to determine the effects of participation by farmers' organizations in the joint control of pest and disease among kiwifruit growers. RESULTS A positive relationship was found between organizational participation and the joint control of pests and diseases. The empirical analysis of this study found that organizational support, organizational learning and organizational norms have mediating effects in the process of farmers' participation in the joint control of pests and disease. It is essential to go beyond individual behavior and tackle group decision-making at the farm level. CONCLUSION This study found a positive effect of organizational participation in joint pest and disease control mechanisms. Moreover, whether the farm is situated in the demonstration zone for kiwifruit cultivation, planting experience, planting area, whether there are people in the family who are village cadres, and the number of older adults in the family significantly positively affect the degree of pest and disease control.