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Pesticide use in Brazil in the era of agroindustrialization and globalization

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 September 2001

Susmita Dasgupta ,
Nlandu Mamingi  and
Craig Meisner
Susmita Dasgupta
Affiliation:
Development Economics Research Group, The World Bank, 1818 H Street NW, Washington, DC 20433
Nlandu Mamingi
Affiliation:
Department of Economics, University of the West Indies, P.O. Box 64, Cave Hill Campus, Barbados, West Indies.
Craig Meisner
Affiliation:
Development Economics Research Group, The World Bank, 1818 H Street NW, Washington, DC 20433
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Abstract

This study examines the trend in pesticide use in Brazil in the 1990s in the context of agroindustrialization and globalization (trade liberalization). It also seeks to document the environmental costs and human health hazard associated with pesticide use in Brazil. Results from time series data indicate that agricultural trade liberalization has led to increased pesticide use in Brazil, particularly in export crops. Results from cross-section municipality-level data point to higher incidence of pesticide use in municipalities with high income, higher levels of education, large-size farms, predominance of export crops, and with high prevalence of sharecropping. Finally, the study finds that Brazil's agricultural growth in the era of trade liberalization has been clouded by serious human health problems and environmental damage caused by pesticide use.

Type
Research Article
Information
Environment and Development Economics , Volume 6 , Issue 4 , October 2001 , pp. 459 - 482
Copyright
© 2001 Cambridge University Press

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Footnotes

We would like to acknowledge the work of IBGE, Brazil for collaboration and support. Our thanks to Ken Chomitz, Subhendu Roy, Scott Swinton, David Wheeler, anonymous referees, the editor, Guilherme Bastos Soria, Christian Pieri and Michael Howard for the many useful comments and suggestions. The findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed in this paper are entirely those of the authors. They do not necessarily represent the views of the World Bank, its Executive Directors, or the countries they represent.