Farmers’ Willingness to Pay for New Storage Technologies for Maize in Northern and Central Benin

Evelyne Gbénou-Sissinto, Ygué P. Adegbola, Gauthier Biaou and Roch C. Zossou
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Evelyne Gbénou-Sissinto: Department of Economy and Sociology of Rural Development, Agricultural Sciences Faculty (FSA), University of Abomey-Calavi (UAC), Cotonou 01BP526, Benin
Ygué P. Adegbola: National Agricultural Research Institute (INRAB), Cotonou 01BP884, Benin
Gauthier Biaou: Department of Economy and Sociology of Rural Development, Agricultural Sciences Faculty (FSA), University of Abomey-Calavi (UAC), Cotonou 01BP526, Benin
Roch C. Zossou: National Agricultural Research Institute (INRAB), Cotonou 01BP884, Benin

Sustainability, 2018, vol. 10, issue 8, 1-21

Abstract: The aim of this study is to identify the attributes of storage structures sought by maize producers based on a choice experiment. The experimental processes took place in the maize production areas of northern and central Benin. The sample consisted of 365 maize farmers (80.55% male and 19.45% female) randomly selected from 40 villages. Data were collected and analyzed using a latent class logit model to study the heterogeneous preferences of the key attributes of storage structures. The results show that men and women are eager to change their current practices and to adopt new storage technologies. The study identifies four potential producer segments, including three large-farmer segments that have access to credit and are particularly attracted to structures related to metal silos. Of those three segments, two are also attracted to improved traditional silos. Another segment of poor farmers, who do not have access to credit, prefer to have a very efficient structure (loss rate of less than 5%) that is designed with local materials. This study suggests that knowledge of the heterogeneity of preferences, as well as the preferred attributes, is important for the development and dissemination of better technologies by agribusiness firms, institutions and policymakers.

Keywords: maize; storage structures; choice experiment; latent class logit model; willingness to pay; Benin (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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