Evaluating socio-economic impacts of IPM

Abstract

Economic, social, and environmental impacts of IPM are felt by producers, by household members, and by society at large. IPM programs can influence pest control costs, the level and variability of production and income, and the health of pesticide applicators. They can affect food safety, water quality, and the long-run sustainability of agricultural systems. These effects may be felt unevenly by region, farm size, income level, gender, and consumers versus producers. IPM programs can have these effects, but the question remains: what effects have specific IPM programs had or what effects will they have on one or more of the various factors and groups mentioned above? Answers to these questions are important to producers, to those involved in recommending IPM strategies, and to those who fund IPM research and extension programs. Practical assessment methods are needed to provide credible answers without absorbing an inordinate share of an IPM budget. A variety of IPM evaluation methods have been applied, and the methods and issues addressed have broadened considerably from the initial field and farm-level budgeting of IPM alternatives. Recent studies have considered risk effects, pest-practice dynamics, and aggregate impacts of IPM programs across regions, gender, and other social dimensions. Health and environmental effects have also been considered, as discussed in Chapter 13. The purpose of this chapter is to briefly describe some basic methods for evaluating economic and social impacts and to suggest what may be a workable evaluation protocol for a participatory IPM program. It describes methods, presents a protocol, and then provides examples based on analyses completed on the IPM and Peanut CRSPs.