Impact of farm size on intensity of pesticide use: Evidence from China

The average amount of pesticides used per hectare in China is roughly five times of the world average. Understanding the drivers of pesticide use will help reduce excessive pesticide use in China. Using farm-level cross-sectional data, county-level and province-level panel data, this study investigates the impact of farm size on the intensity of pesticide use. The results indicate that farm size has a significant negative impact on the intensity of pesticide use. On average, a 1% increase in farm size is associated with a 0.2% decrease in pesticide use per hectare. The study suggests that promoting the development of relatively large-scale farms can reduce the intensity of pesticide use in China. [Display omitted] •This study investigates the impact of farm size on intensity of pesticide use using farm-level data.•Farm size has a significant negative impact on intensity of pesticide use in China.•A 1% increase in farm size is associated with a 0.2% decrease in pesticide use per hectare.•Promoting the development of relatively large-scale farms can reduce pesticide use.