The Adoption of Thermal Treatment Technology (TTT) for Sustainable Post-Harvest Pest Control: A Case Study of Dried Fig Producers in Aydın, Turkey

This study investigates the key determinants influencing farmers’ adoption of Thermal Treatment Technology (TTT) as a sustainable and agroecological strategy for controlling storage pests and reducing chemical inputs in post-harvest management. Reducing reliance on synthetic pesticides aligns with the principles of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and supports the European Union’s Green Deal objectives, particularly in promoting low-carbon and environmentally friendly agricultural practices. This research focuses on dried fig producers and processors in Aydın, Turkey—one of the country’s leading fig-producing regions. Data were collected through face-to-face structured interviews with 170 farmers and processors. To ensure a minimum level of understanding of the technology, participants were shown a 3-minute educational video introducing the concept, benefits, and application of TTT prior to completing the questionnaire. A multinomial logistic regression model was applied to identify the socio-economic variables that significantly influence adoption behavior. The results indicate that access to training and educational resources, financial and marketing support, farm size, and land ownership are positively associated with the likelihood of adopting TTT. Conversely, age shows a negative relationship, with younger farmers demonstrating a higher propensity to adopt innovative and sustainable practices. The model demonstrated good explanatory power, with Nagelkerke R² = 0.587 and McFadden R² = 0.294. Overall, the findings highlight the importance of supportive institutional frameworks and socio-economic conditions in facilitating the uptake of green technologies in agriculture. Policymakers and agricultural extension services should focus on enhancing awareness, improving financial incentives, and targeting younger generations to scale up sustainable post-harvest practices. This research contributes valuable insights for designing interventions that foster climate-smart agriculture and promote zero-pollution solutions in crop protection systems.