Towards an Integrated <i>Orobanche</i> Management: Understanding Farmers’ Decision-Making Processes Using a Discrete Choice Experiment
Controlling the <i>Orobanche</i> weed parasite is a major challenge for farmers, and the individual application of various management practices has not yet proven to be successful in addressing this issue. To develop an effective strategy for managing this parasitic weed, an Integrated &...
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MDPI AG
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Agronomy |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/1/219 |
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| author | Ahmed Yangui Taheni Mlayeh Zouhaier Abbes Mohamed Kharrat |
| author_facet | Ahmed Yangui Taheni Mlayeh Zouhaier Abbes Mohamed Kharrat |
| author_sort | Ahmed Yangui |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Controlling the <i>Orobanche</i> weed parasite is a major challenge for farmers, and the individual application of various management practices has not yet proven to be successful in addressing this issue. To develop an effective strategy for managing this parasitic weed, an Integrated <i>Orobanche</i> Management (IOM) approach has become a priority. Using a Discrete Choice Experiment (DCE) methodology, we analyze the trade-off in farmers’ preferences between different attributes of IOM scenarios and estimate their willingness to pay (WTP). A sample of 124 Tunisian faba bean farmers participated in the study. The findings indicate that Tunisian farmers are open to adopt an IOM that includes <i>Orobanche</i>-tolerant faba bean varieties, and that the cost of technical package does not seem to be an obstacle. Nevertheless, farmers feel to be rewarded for delaying the sowing date from November to December. Furthermore, the study highlights that farmers show no clear preferences for the use of herbicide, specifically glyphosate, as well as for the practice of intercropping with fenugreek. While increasing faba bean yields remains a priority, farmers are willing to pay more for IOM scenarios that reduce the <i>Orobanche</i> plant shoot count. In conclusion, there is significant heterogeneity in farmers’ preferences, their financial situation, and the severity of <i>Orobanche</i> infestation significantly influencing their decision. Policy recommendations are derived from our results. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-bcae09695f6b4d6198a8b75d6cff8fe6 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2073-4395 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agronomy |
| spelling | doaj-art-bcae09695f6b4d6198a8b75d6cff8fe62025-01-24T13:17:13ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952025-01-0115121910.3390/agronomy15010219Towards an Integrated <i>Orobanche</i> Management: Understanding Farmers’ Decision-Making Processes Using a Discrete Choice ExperimentAhmed Yangui0Taheni Mlayeh1Zouhaier Abbes2Mohamed Kharrat3Agricultural Economic Laboratory (LER–LR16INRAT07), National Institute for Agricultural Research of Tunisia INRAT, University of Carthage, El Menzah IV, Tunis 1004, TunisiaAgricultural Economic Laboratory (LER–LR16INRAT07), National Institute for Agricultural Research of Tunisia INRAT, University of Carthage, El Menzah IV, Tunis 1004, TunisiaField Crop Laboratory (LGC–LR16INRAT02), National Institute for Agricultural Research of Tunisia INRAT, University of Carthage, El Menzah IV, Tunis 1004, TunisiaField Crop Laboratory (LGC–LR16INRAT02), National Institute for Agricultural Research of Tunisia INRAT, University of Carthage, El Menzah IV, Tunis 1004, TunisiaControlling the <i>Orobanche</i> weed parasite is a major challenge for farmers, and the individual application of various management practices has not yet proven to be successful in addressing this issue. To develop an effective strategy for managing this parasitic weed, an Integrated <i>Orobanche</i> Management (IOM) approach has become a priority. Using a Discrete Choice Experiment (DCE) methodology, we analyze the trade-off in farmers’ preferences between different attributes of IOM scenarios and estimate their willingness to pay (WTP). A sample of 124 Tunisian faba bean farmers participated in the study. The findings indicate that Tunisian farmers are open to adopt an IOM that includes <i>Orobanche</i>-tolerant faba bean varieties, and that the cost of technical package does not seem to be an obstacle. Nevertheless, farmers feel to be rewarded for delaying the sowing date from November to December. Furthermore, the study highlights that farmers show no clear preferences for the use of herbicide, specifically glyphosate, as well as for the practice of intercropping with fenugreek. While increasing faba bean yields remains a priority, farmers are willing to pay more for IOM scenarios that reduce the <i>Orobanche</i> plant shoot count. In conclusion, there is significant heterogeneity in farmers’ preferences, their financial situation, and the severity of <i>Orobanche</i> infestation significantly influencing their decision. Policy recommendations are derived from our results.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/1/219<i>Orobanche</i>Integrated <i>Orobanche</i> Managementdiscrete choice experimentrandom parameter logitfarmers’ preferenceswillingness to pay |
| spellingShingle | Ahmed Yangui Taheni Mlayeh Zouhaier Abbes Mohamed Kharrat Towards an Integrated <i>Orobanche</i> Management: Understanding Farmers’ Decision-Making Processes Using a Discrete Choice Experiment Agronomy <i>Orobanche</i> Integrated <i>Orobanche</i> Management discrete choice experiment random parameter logit farmers’ preferences willingness to pay |
| title | Towards an Integrated <i>Orobanche</i> Management: Understanding Farmers’ Decision-Making Processes Using a Discrete Choice Experiment |
| title_full | Towards an Integrated <i>Orobanche</i> Management: Understanding Farmers’ Decision-Making Processes Using a Discrete Choice Experiment |
| title_fullStr | Towards an Integrated <i>Orobanche</i> Management: Understanding Farmers’ Decision-Making Processes Using a Discrete Choice Experiment |
| title_full_unstemmed | Towards an Integrated <i>Orobanche</i> Management: Understanding Farmers’ Decision-Making Processes Using a Discrete Choice Experiment |
| title_short | Towards an Integrated <i>Orobanche</i> Management: Understanding Farmers’ Decision-Making Processes Using a Discrete Choice Experiment |
| title_sort | towards an integrated i orobanche i management understanding farmers decision making processes using a discrete choice experiment |
| topic | <i>Orobanche</i> Integrated <i>Orobanche</i> Management discrete choice experiment random parameter logit farmers’ preferences willingness to pay |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/1/219 |
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