Socio- economic Determinants of Environmental Risk and Safe Pesticide Use: A Canonical Correlation Analysis

Peddi Naga Harsha Vardhan; Vaishnavi Pulletikurthi; Ajay Kumar Prusty; Rama Lakshmi Vecmalapu; Tumma Mounika

doi:10.48165/IJEE.2026.62315

Authors

Peddi Naga Harsha Vardhan Assistant Professor, Department of Agricultural Extension Education, M. S. Swaminathan School of Agriculture, Centurion University of Technology and Management, Paralakhemundi, Odisha-761211,
Vaishnavi Pulletikurthi M.Sc. Student, Department of Agricultural Extension Education, M. S. Swaminathan School of Agriculture, Centurion University of Technology and Management, Paralakhemundi, Odisha-761211,
Ajay Kumar Prusty Associate Professor, Department of Agricultural Extension Education, M. S. Swaminathan School of Agriculture, Centurion University of Technology and Management, Paralakhemundi, Odisha-761211,
Rama Lakshmi Vecmalapu Assistant Professor, Department of Entomology , M. S. Swaminathan School of Agriculture, Centurion University of Technology and Management Paralakhemundi, Odisha-761211, India
Tumma Mounika Assistant Professor, Department of Entomology , M. S. Swaminathan School of Agriculture, Centurion University of Technology and Management Paralakhemundi, Odisha-761211, India

https://doi.org/10.48165/IJEE.2026.62315

Keywords:

Chilli growers, Canonical correlation analysis, Environmental risk perception, Safe pesticide use, Socio-economic characteristics

Abstract

The study was conducted in 2025-26 at Guntur District of Andhra Pradesh and examines the significant impact on socio-economic factors of chilli growers and their perceptions of environmental risk and safe pesticide use in the study area. Canonical correlation analysis (CCA) was used to identify the connection between independent variables with dependent variables of chilli growers. A multistage sampling technique was used to choose 160 chilli growers from four mandals in the Guntur district. Perceptions of environmental risk and safe pesticide use were regarded as dependent variables, while eleven socioeconomic factors were classified as independent variables. The first canonical pair of variates showed stronger canonical correlation of 81.72 per cent with high Eigen values. It was mainly influenced by attitude, knowledge, education, age and information source. The second function, showed 37.58 per cent of the shared variance was mostly determined by structural characteristics that influenced perceptions of environmental risk, specifically the area under chilli cultivation. The findings suggest how cognitive, attitudinal and resource-based socioeconomic factors significantly influence growers' perspectives. Promoting ecologically safe pesticide practices requires bolstering extension interventions that emphasize knowledge, attitude and risk communication.

References

Afandi, G., & Irfan, M. (2024). Pesticides risk assessment review: status, modeling approaches, and future perspectives. Agronomy, 14(10), 2-16. https://doi.org/10.3390/ agronomy14102299

Akour, I., Rahamneh, A. A. L., AlKurdi, B., Alhamad, A., Al-Makhariz, I., Alshurideh, M., & Al-Hawary, S. (2023). Using the canonical correlation analysis method to study students’ levels in face-to face and online education in Jordan. Information Sciences Letters, 12(2), 901-910. http://dx.doi.org/10.18576/isl/120229

Anonymous. (2023). ANGRAU - Crop Outlook Reports of Andhra Pradesh Chilli – June to May, 2023-24. Centre for Agriculture and Rural Development Policy Research(CARP), pp: 1-6.

Anonymous. (2024). One District One Product 2024. Guntur District. Government of Andhra Pradesh https://guntur.ap.gov.in/odop2024/

Daravath, D., Yuvaraj, K. M., Jayaprada, M., Gaja, S., & Balakrishna, M. (2025). Generation mean analysis for yield and quality traits in Yellow coloured chilli (Capsicum annuum L.). Research square. pp: 1-7. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-7546379/v1.

Das, N., Modak, S., Prusty, A. K., Saha, P., & Suman, S. (2025). Understanding and overcoming key challenges of agripreneurs in southern Odisha: A case study. Indian Journal of Extension Education, 61(2), 118-122. https://doi.org/10.48165/IJEE.2025.612RN05

Delai, C., Muhae-Ud-Din, G., Abid, R., Tian, T., Liu, R., Xiong, Y., & Ghorbani, A. (2024). A comprehensive review of integrated management strategies for damping-off disease in chili. Frontiers in Microbiology, 15, 1-17 https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2024.1479957

Goddu, S. M., Mishra, A., Jena, C., & Prusty, A. K. (2025). Genotype assessment of chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) for sustainable production in Southern Odisha. NG Agricultural Sciences, 1(1), 8-15. https://doi.org/10.66132/ngas010102

Janaki, M., Babu, J. D., Naidu, L., Ramana, C. V., Rao, K. K., & Krishna, K. U. (2023). Genetics of fruit bearing habit and fruit orientation in chilli (Capsicum annuum L.). Plant Archives (09725210), 23(2). https://doi.org/10.51470/plantarchives.2023.v23.no2.032

Jaya Prabhavathi, S., Senthil Kumar, M., Natarajan, S. K., Senthilkumar, P., Malathi, G., Subrahmaniyan, K., & Venkatachalam, S. R. (2025). Integrated management of thrips on chilli plantations through intercropping with cluster bean. Applied Ecology & Environmental Research, 23(3), 5163-5174. https://doi.org/10.15666/aeer/2303_51635174

Kumar, K. N. R., Reddy, M. J. M., Shafiwu, A. B., & Reddy, A. A. (2023). Impact of farmer producer organizations on price and poverty alleviation of smallholder dry chillies farmers in India. Research on World Agricultural Economy, 4(3), 46-62. https://doi.org/10.36956/rwae.v4i3.880

Kumari, Y. R., & Nahatkar, S. (2021). Resource use efficiency in production of dry chilli in Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh. International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences, 10(01), 3300-3305. https://doi.org/10.20546/ijcmas.2021.1001.385.

Nehul, J. N. (2025). Environmental impact of pesticides: Toxicity, bioaccumulation and alternatives. Environmental Reports, 7(2), 14-21. https://doi.org/10.51470/ER.2025.7.2.14

Nurika, G., Indrayani, R., Syamila, A. I., & Adi, D. I. (2022). Management of pesticide contamination in the environment and agricultural products: a literature review. Journal of Environmental Health, 14(4), 265-281. https://doi.org/10.20473/jkl.v14i4.2022.265-281

Paine, A. K., Saha, A., Tiwari, P. K., Dhakre, D. S., & Gupta, R. K. (2021). Constraints perceived by the vegetable growers towards excessive use of chemicals in Bankura district of West Bengal. Indian Journal of Extension Education, 57(3), 45-47. https://doi.org/10.48165/IJEE.2021.57311

Prabhavathi, R., Anitha, D., Vastradh, J., Neeraja, T., & Prakassh, K. K. (2020). Demographic survey on pesticide applicators in chilli production in the Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh. The Pharma Innovation Journal, 10(1), 05–13. https://doi.org/10.22271/tpi.2021.v10.i1Sa.5498

Pujitha, A. S., Naik, A., Kumar, A., & Biswas, T. (2024). Comparative analysis of the impact of FPO on paddy farmers through canonical correlation analysis. Indian Journal of Extension Education, 60(3), 49-53. https://doi.org/10.48165/IJEE.2024.60310

Sahoo, S. L., Sahoo, B., & Das, S. (2024). FPO member farmer empowerment: socio-economic insights via canonical correlation analysis. Indian Journal of Extension Education, 60(1), 59-62. https://doi.org/10.48165/IJEE.2024.60111

Sahar, B., Sharma, A. K., & Gill, J. S. (2020). Farmers’ satisfaction with dramatized presentation regarding safe use of pesticides. Indian Journal of Extension Education, 56(4), 69-73.

Sharma, P., Riar, T. S., & Garg, L. (2020). Buying behavior and farmers’ practices regarding agrochemicals use on rice crop in Punjab. Indian Journal of Extension Education, 56(4), 87-91. https://iseeiari.org/Journalpdf/IJEE_56_4/IJEE_56_4_15.pdf

Singh, T. N., Joshi, A. K., Vikram, A., Yadav, N., & Prashar, S. (2024). Mean performances, character associations and multi-environmental evaluation of Chilli landraces in North Western Himalayas. Scientific Reports, 14(1), 769. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-51348-5.

Sireesha, K., Prasanna, B. V. L., Lakshmi, T. V., & Reddy, R. V. S. K. (2021). Outbreak of invasive thrips species Thrips parvispinus in chilli growing areas of Andhra Pradesh, Insect Environment, 24 (4), 514-519. https://img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/e32c3452-4e91-4d33-bdd5-d2fe34246a6c/downloads/9.%20K.%20Sireesha.pdf?ver=1659795704729

Uikey, A. A., Mishra, D., Marak, Z. R., & Saraswat, P. (2025). Pesticide knowledge and farmers’ safety behaviours: insights from the theory of planned behaviour. Sustainable Futures, 10, 101079. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sftr.2025.101079

Vandenberg, L. N., Pierce, E. J., & Arsenault, R. M. (2025). Pesticides, an urgent challenge to global environmental health and planetary boundaries. Frontiers in toxicology, 7, 1656297, 1-15. https://doi.org/10.3389/ftox.2025.1656297

Yadav, K. (2024). Pesticides use in Indian agriculture: A review. International Journal of Creative Research Thoughts (IJCRT), 12(4), 620-625. https://www.ijcrt.org/papers/IJCRT2404650.pdf