Potential Economic Benefits from Plantain Integrated Pest Management Adoption: The Case of Coastal Rural Households in Ecuador

This thesis evaluates the potential of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) technologies for plantain to benefit the poor in Ecuador. First, a socioeconomic analysis of plantain producers in the Ecuadorian coast is presented. Second, adoption rates for different size farms are estimated for use of various improved management practices. Projected adoption rates are then used in an economic surplus analysis to estimate potential benefits of IPM technologies. Results indicate that most producer benefits will accrue to medium-scale plantain farmers. However, we find plantain farmers to be in general poor. Adopting farmers increase their demand for labor, benefiting mostly poor rural landless households. Urban consumers and rural poor households also benefit from the induced plantain price reduction resulting from increased production.