The economic effectiveness of chemical means of crop protection under current conditions of economic reform in Russia.

摘要

A methodology is presented for the systematic evaluation, on a macroeconomic level, of the economic effectiveness of pesticide use. This methodology was then applied to the current situation in Russia, being used to calculate values for additional crop yields resulting from pesticide use, and potential crop losses resulting from plant pests, plant diseases and weeds. These values were used to evaluate the economic effectiveness of pesticide use in crop production as a whole, and the economic effectiveness of insecticide, fungicide and herbicide use for individual named crops. Pesticide production in Russia decreased from an annual average of 215 600 t in 1986-90 to 30 300 t in 1996-97. The area of crops treated with pesticides decreased from an annual average of 61.1 million ha in 1986-90 to 31.7 million ha in 1991-95, with additional crop yields resulting from pesticide use (expressed in terms of grain) decreasing from 22.5 to 14.2 million t. Potential crop losses resulting from plant pests, plant diseases or weeds increased by 1.5 times as a result of decreased pesticide use and availability. Despite the fact that increases in crop prices did not match increases in prices for pesticides and associated equipment for pesticide application, the potential value of lost crops outweighed pesticide costs. However, profitability of pesticide use prior to reforms (1986-90) was 1.7 times greater than profitability after reforms (1991-95). Eight tables are given.