The Perceptions and Knowledge of Farmers on Sustainable Pest Management in Three Agricultural Production Systems in Tungurahua Province, Ecuador

The overreliance on chemical pesticides in Ecuadorian agriculture raises serious concerns regarding environmental sustainability and public health. This study aimed to assess farmers’ perceptions and knowledge of sustainable pest management strategies across three agricultural systems in Tungurahua province: indigenous family farming (Salasaka), fruit production (Patate) and horticulture (Izamba). A structured survey was administered to 162 farmers, and responses were analysed using descriptive statistics and multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) to characterise patterns across systems. Pesticide use remained widespread, largely driven by perceived effectiveness in pest suppression and yield improvement. Farmers also reported substantial concerns regarding the health and environmental risks associated with pesticide application. Horticultural farmers exhibited the highest risk awareness and greater adoption of alternative methods, including biological control using entomopathogenic microorganisms. In contrast, fruit and indigenous family systems showed lower awareness and minimal use of alternatives, despite reporting symptoms consistent with pesticide exposure. Key constraints limiting adoption included limited access to biocontrol inputs, lack of training and inconsistent field efficacy. MCA further revealed marked differences in risk perception and pesticide dependency across systems. These findings highlight the need for targeted training, improved access to sustainable inputs and context‐specific policies promoting agroecological pest management. Strengthening farmer capacity in integrated and biological pest control could reduce pesticide reliance while improving agro‐ecosystem health.