Organic Agriculture: Consumers Attitudes and Behavioral Change in the context of Environmental Challenges in Cameroon

Abstract

Unintentional ingestion of pesticides is common in societies. Yet the consequences are multiplying in a disastrous way. Organic agriculture [OA] roles at preserving the environment and the health of the consumer. The objective of this study is to analyze the attitudes and purchase intentions of the consumer through the theory of Ajzen's planned behaviour. A total of 318 consumers were interviewed in the localities of Loum, Njombé-Penja and Mbanga using a mix questionnaire. The Likert model, 5-point scale was used to measure attitudes. The results obtained reveal that positive attitudes lead to purchasing intentions among consumers in relation to organic products (Mean = 40.5283; Standard Deviation. = 5.89638) to the detriment of conventional products (Mean = 22.7484; Standard Deviation. = 5.57707). This significant difference is in favour of organic products (F (1 318) = 1.812; p ˂ 0.05). In fact, intention is the intermediate variable between attitudes and observed behaviours.