A regression model was fitted to estimate the effect of different variables on the number of pesticide applications and pesticide cost per hectare (Table 6).
Both models had significance values of 0.00 for the likelihood ratio chi-square test, indicating that the models outperform the null model.
For the number of sprays, all variables except the total farm area had a significant effect at the 0.000 level on the dependent variable.
The number of sprays was much higher in West Bengal, compared to Gujarat and Karnataka. The age of farmers also had a significant effect, with older farmers spraying more frequently.
Farmers with college or technical education reported the least number of sprays and this was significantly different compared to farmers with no formal education and farmers with completed secondary education.
Spraying frequency