Analysis of Farmer Behavior in the Management of Used Pesticide Packaging in Karo Regency

Abstract

Pesticides are essential chemical inputs in modern agriculture for maintaining productivity and food security. However, excessive use and improper disposal can pose serious threats to human health and the environment. This study aims to analyze farmers’ behavior in managing used pesticide containers in Karo Regency using the Structural Equation Modeling–Partial Least Squares (SEM–PLS) approach.  The study was conducted in Raya Village, Berastagi District, Karo Regency, involving 50 respondents selected through simple random sampling. Four latent constructs were analyzed: knowledge, experience, perception, and behavior. The results showed that knowledge and experience had significant positive effects on perception, while perception positively influenced behavior in pesticide container management. The R² value for perception was 0.628, and for behavior was 0.128, indicating that knowledge and experience explain most of the variance in perception, while perception explains a small portion of the variance in safe behavior.  The findings suggest that although farmers have awareness of pesticide hazards, behavioral change remains limited. Continuous training about Good Pesticide Handling Practices, collection facilities at the village level, and integrated supervision are recommended to enhance safe and sustainable pesticide management practices.

Keywords: farmers’ behavior, pesticides, sustainable natural resources, used containers