Best-Worst Scaling Approach in Predicting Seed Attribute Preferences among Resource: Poor Farmers in Northern Nigeria

Abstract

Because seed demand in African farming communities is associated with chronic poverty, this research sought to elicit seed attribute preferences among resource-poor farmers by utilizing recent advances in best-worst scaling. The study focuses on farmers within and outside intervention sites of the National Special Food Security Programme (NSFSP) in Sokoto and Kebbi States, northern Nigeria. Based on previous literature related to seed attribute preferences, a list of seven seed attributes was compiled. Results reveal that on average the seed attribute of price and channel of delivery were the most important to resource-poor farmers, whereas the attributes of origin, color of seed, size followed by environmental impact were among the least important. Mixed logit estimation results indicate that price, channel of seed delivery, origin, and seed type estimates are statistically significant both within and outside the National food security project in the study locations