Abstract
In Nigeria, Aflasafe is a registered biological product for reducing aflatoxin infestation of crops from the field to storage, making the crops safer for consumption. The important questions are whether farmers will purchase and apply this product to reduce aflatoxin contamination of crops, and if so under what conditions. A study was carried out to address these questions and assess determinants of willingness to pay (WTP) for the product among maize and groundnut farmers in Kano and Kaduna states in Nigeria. A multistage sampling technique was used to collect primary data from 492 farmers. The majority of farmers who had direct experience with Aflasafe (experienced farmers) in Kano (80.7%) and Kaduna (84.3%) had a WTP bid value equal to or greater than the threshold price ($10) at which Aflasafe was to be sold. The mean WTP estimates for Aflasafe for experienced farmers in Kano and Kaduna were statistically the same. However, values of $3.56 and $7.46 were offered in Kano and Kaduna states, respectively, by farmers who had never applied Aflasafe (inexperienced farmers), and the difference here was significant (P < 0.01). Regression results indicate that contact with extension agents (P < 0.01) and access to credit (P < 0.05) positively and significantly influenced the probability that a farmer would be willing to pay more for Aflasafe than the threshold price. Lack of awareness of the importance of Aflasafe was the major reason cited by inexperienced farmers (64% in Kano state and 21% in Kaduna state) for not using the product. A market strategy promoting a premium price for aflatoxin-safe produce and creating awareness and explaining the availability of Aflasafe to potential users should increase Aflasafe usage.
Highlights
For small-scale farmers, the question of affordability and added value is central and will determine whether these farmers use the product, no matter how effective it is
Commercial farmers can afford to pay the cost of Aflasafe, individual small-scale farmers may not be willing to pay even the relatively low cost of Aflasafe if they do not understand the risks associated with aflatoxin [29]
Use of Aflasafe will allow a farmer to produce grain that is safer for consumption for his or her personal consumption and to receive a premium market price from buyers who value grain that is aflatoxin safe
Summary
For small-scale farmers, the question of affordability and added value is central and will determine whether these farmers use the product, no matter how effective it is. Use of Aflasafe will allow a farmer to produce grain that is safer for consumption for his or her personal consumption and to receive a premium market price from buyers who value grain that is aflatoxin safe. This increase in price provides an additional incentive to increase the quality of grain a farmer can sell. This study was carried out to answer the following research questions: (i) Are farmers willing to pay for Aflasafe, and if yes, under what conditions? (ii) What are the factors that influence farmers’ willingness to pay (WTP) for Aflasafe? (iii) What are the key constraints to adoption of Aflasafe use in the study areas?
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