IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/p/ags/puaesp/28684.html
   My bibliography  Save this paper

Consumer Preferences For Quality Characteristics Along The Cowpea Value Chain In Nigeria, Ghana And Mali

Author

Listed:
  • Mishili, Fulgence J.
  • Fulton, Joan R.
  • Shehu, Musa
  • Kushwaha, Saket
  • Marfo, Kofi
  • Jamal, Mustafa
  • Chergna, Alpha
  • Lowenberg-DeBoer, James

Abstract

The production and trade of cowpea (Vigna Uniculata), called "blackeyed peas" in the US, are a growing business for farmers and merchants serving the rapidly expanding urban areas of West and Central Africa. Cowpea fits the needs of the urban poor. It is an inexpensive source of protein that does not require refrigeration. A better understanding of consumer preferences for cowpea is essential to market development. The main objective of the study was to determine the cowpea grain quality characteristics that command a price premium or provoke a discount in Ghanaian, Malian and Nigerian markets. Specifically, the study looked at the impact of the grain size, texture, color, eye color, and bruchid-damaged grains on cowpea market prices. The data for the study were collected from six markets in Ghana; four markets were in the capital city of Accra and two markets in Kumasi. In Mali, two markets were surveyed, Marche de Sabalibougou and Marche Medine. In Nigeria three markets were surveyed, Iddo in Lagos; Monday, in Maiduguri; and Dawanau in Kano. Hedonic pricing methods provide a statistical estimate of premiums and discounts. The results of the study indicated that cowpea consumers in Ghana, Mali and Nigeria are willing to pay a premium for large cowpea grains. Cowpea consumers discount grains with storage damage from the very first bruchid hole. The impact of price on other cowpea quality characteristics such as skin color and texture, and eye color varies locally. Implications for development of the cowpea value chain include: 1) breeders and cowpea production researchers should identify cost-effective ways to increase cowpea grain size because larger grain size is almost universally preferred, and 2) entomologists and storage experts should develop and transfer improved storage technologies to reduce damage discounts, and 3) serving local markets requires a portfolio of grain skin color, eye color and skin texture combinations.

Suggested Citation

  • Mishili, Fulgence J. & Fulton, Joan R. & Shehu, Musa & Kushwaha, Saket & Marfo, Kofi & Jamal, Mustafa & Chergna, Alpha & Lowenberg-DeBoer, James, 2007. "Consumer Preferences For Quality Characteristics Along The Cowpea Value Chain In Nigeria, Ghana And Mali," Staff Papers 28684, Purdue University, Department of Agricultural Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:puaesp:28684
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.28684
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/28684/files/wp060017.pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.22004/ag.econ.28684?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    Other versions of this item:

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Michael Boehlje, 1999. "Structural Changes in the Agricultural Industries: How Do We Measure, Analyze and Understand Them?," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 81(5), pages 1028-1041.
    2. Langyintuo, A. S. & Ntoukam, G. & Murdock, L. & Lowenberg-DeBoer, J. & Miller, D. J., 2004. "Consumer preferences for cowpea in Cameroon and Ghana," Agricultural Economics, Blackwell, vol. 30(3), pages 203-213, May.
    3. Espinosa, Juan Andres & Goodwin, Barry K., 1991. "Hedonic Price Estimation For Kansas Wheat Characteristics," Western Journal of Agricultural Economics, Western Agricultural Economics Association, vol. 16(1), pages 1-14, July.
    4. Allan Walburger & Kenneth Foster, 1994. "Using Censored Data to Estimate Implicit Values of Swine Breeding Stock Attributes," Review of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 16(2), pages 259-268.
    5. Faye, Mbene Dieye & Jooste, Andre & Lowenberg-DeBoer, James & Fulton, Joan R., 2004. "The influence of cowpea characteristics on cowpea prices in Senegal," Agrekon, Agricultural Economics Association of South Africa (AEASA), vol. 43(4), pages 1-12, December.
    6. Laurian J. Unnevehr, 1986. "Consumer Demand for Rice Grain Quality and Returns to Research for Quality Improvement in Southeast Asia," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 68(3), pages 634-641.
    7. Augustine S. Langyintuo & J. Lowenberg‐DeBoer & Channing Arndt, 2005. "Potential impacts of the proposed West African monetary zone on cowpea trade," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 33(s3), pages 411-421, November.
    8. Jean D. Kinsey, 2001. "The New Food Economy: Consumers, Farms, Pharms, and Science," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 83(5), pages 1113-1130.
    9. B. Wade Brorsen & Warren R. Grant & M. Edward Rister, 1984. "A Hedonic Price Model for Rough Rice Bid/Acceptance Markets," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 66(2), pages 156-163.
    10. Douglas D. Parker & David Zilberman, 1993. "Hedonic Estimation of Quality Factors Affecting the Farm-Retail Margin," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 75(2), pages 458-466.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Smale, Melinda & Theriault, Veronique & Allen, Andrea & Sissoko, Mamadou, 2022. "Is cowpea a ‘women’s crop’ in Mali? Implications for value chain development," African Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, African Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 17(2), June.
    2. Suleyman KARAMAN & Feyza YAVUZ, 2014. "Hedonic price analysis of the quality characteristics of Anatolian hard red wheat," Agricultural Economics, Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences, vol. 60(10), pages 469-478.
    3. Tanya E. Stathers & Sarah E. J. Arnold & Corinne J. Rumney & Clare Hopson, 2020. "Measuring the nutritional cost of insect infestation of stored maize and cowpea," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 12(2), pages 285-308, April.
    4. Nkoyo Etim Bassey & Arnim Kuhn & Hugo Storm, 2018. "Are maize marketers averse to quality loss in supplies? A case study from Ghana," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 49(5), pages 649-658, September.
    5. Jones, Michael S. & Alexander, Corinne E. & Smith, Bruce, "undated". "Market Power & Economic Consequences of Post-Harvest Losses in Rwandan Dry Bean Markets," 2014 Annual Meeting, July 27-29, 2014, Minneapolis, Minnesota 170659, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    6. Sanusi, Olajide I. & Safi, Samir K. & Adeeko, Omotara & Tabash, Mosab I., 2022. "Forecasting agricultural commodity price using different models: a case study of widely consumed grains in Nigeria," Agricultural and Resource Economics: International Scientific E-Journal, Agricultural and Resource Economics: International Scientific E-Journal, vol. 8(2), June.
    7. Mishili, Fulgence J. & Temu, Anna A. & Fulton, Joan R. & Lowenberg-DeBoer, James, 2009. "Consumer preferences as drivers of the common bean trade in Tanzania: A marketing perspective," Staff Papers 48658, Purdue University, Department of Agricultural Economics.
    8. Kotchofa, Pacem A., "undated". "Expenditure and Price Elasticities of Demand for Cowpeas in Northern Ghana. Implications for Public Policies," 2017 Annual Meeting, July 30-August 1, Chicago, Illinois 259966, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    9. Ebata, Ayako & Velasco, Pamela & von Cramon-Taubadel, Stephan, 2015. "Distance to market and farm-gate prices of staple beans in rural Nicaragua," GlobalFood Discussion Papers 197540, Georg-August-Universitaet Goettingen, GlobalFood, Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development.
    10. Takeshima, Hiroyuki & Nagarajan, Latha & Salau, Sheu & Oyekale, Abayomi, 2010. "Nigerian farmers’ preferences on the timing of the purchase of rice, cowpea, and maize seeds:," NSSP working papers 20, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    11. Theriault, Veronique & Assima, Amidou & Vroegindewey, Ryan & Tschirley, David & Keita, Naman, 2017. "A City-Retail Outlet Inventory Of Processed Dairy And Grain Foods: Evidence From Mali," Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Food Security Policy Research Papers 261675, Michigan State University, Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics, Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Food Security (FSP).
    12. Uwamariya, Beatrice, 2014. "Assessment of Consumer Awareness and Preferences for Quality Certification and Origin-Labeling in Fruit Salads in Kigali,Rwanda," Research Theses 198512, Collaborative Masters Program in Agricultural and Applied Economics.
    13. Magen, Benjamin B., 2012. "An Ex Post Economic Impact Assessment of Bean/Cowpea Crsp’s Investment on Varietal Development in Senegal," Graduate Research Master's Degree Plan B Papers 142739, Michigan State University, Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics.
    14. Ebata, Ayako & Pacheco, Pamela Alejandra & Cramon-Taubadel, Stephan von, 2015. "Distance to market and farm-gate prices of staple beans in rural Nicaragua," 2015 Conference, August 9-14, 2015, Milan, Italy 211582, International Association of Agricultural Economists.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Mishili, Fulgence J. & Temu, Anna A. & Fulton, Joan R. & Lowenberg-DeBoer, James, 2009. "Consumer preferences as drivers of the common bean trade in Tanzania: A marketing perspective," Staff Papers 48658, Purdue University, Department of Agricultural Economics.
    2. Richards, Timothy J. & Jeffrey, Scott R., 1995. "Hedonic Pricing of Dairy Bulls - An Alternative Index of Genetic Merit," Project Report Series 24035, University of Alberta, Department of Resource Economics and Environmental Sociology.
    3. M.A. Jabbar, 1998. "Buyer preferences for sheep and goats in southern Nigeria: A hedonic price analysis," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 18(1), pages 21-30, January.
    4. Oczkowski, Edward A., 1994. "A Hedonic Price Function For Australian Premium Table Wine," Australian Journal of Agricultural Economics, Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society, vol. 38(1), pages 1-18, April.
    5. Roberts, Shane & Brooks, Kathleen & Nogueira, Lia & Walters, Cory G., 2022. "The role of quality characteristics in pricing hard red winter wheat," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 108(C).
    6. Kadjo, Didier & Ricker-Gilbert, Jacob & Alexander, Corinne, 2016. "Estimating Price Discounts for Low-Quality Maize in sub-Saharan Africa: Evidence from Benin," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 115-128.
    7. Kadjo, Didier & Ricker-Gilbert, Jacob & Alexander, Corinne, 2015. "Does quality affect maize prices in sub-Saharan Africa? Evidence from Benin," 2015 AAEA & WAEA Joint Annual Meeting, July 26-28, San Francisco, California 205503, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    8. Magen, Benjamin B., 2012. "An Ex Post Economic Impact Assessment of Bean/Cowpea Crsp’s Investment on Varietal Development in Senegal," Graduate Research Master's Degree Plan B Papers 142739, Michigan State University, Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics.
    9. N. Koffi Amegbeto & Victor M. Manyong & Ousmane Coulibaly & Robert Asiedu, 2008. "Estimating market demand for fresh yam characteristics using contingent valuation: implications for crop breeding and production choices," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 39(3), pages 349-363, November.
    10. Hyberg, Bengt & Uri, Noel D. & Oliveira, Valencia, 1996. "The quality characteristics of Japanese soybean imports," Japan and the World Economy, Elsevier, vol. 8(1), pages 81-98, March.
    11. Anneleen Vandeplas & Bart Minten, 2015. "Food quality in domestic markets of developing economies: a comparative study of two countries," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 46(5), pages 617-628, September.
    12. Nkoyo Etim Bassey & Arnim Kuhn & Hugo Storm, 2018. "Are maize marketers averse to quality loss in supplies? A case study from Ghana," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 49(5), pages 649-658, September.
    13. Rimal, Arbindra & Balasubramanian, Siva K. & Moon, Wanki, 2004. "Two-Stage Decision Model Of Soy Food Consumption Behavior," 2004 Annual meeting, August 1-4, Denver, CO 20096, American Agricultural Economics Association (New Name 2008: Agricultural and Applied Economics Association).
    14. Ahumada, Omar & Villalobos, J. Rene, 2009. "Application of planning models in the agri-food supply chain: A review," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 196(1), pages 1-20, July.
    15. Sung C. No & Michael E. Salassi, 2011. "Examining Economic Efficiency of U.S. Government Grading System: The Case of Louisiana Rough Rice," Research in World Economy, Research in World Economy, Sciedu Press, vol. 2(1), pages 2-13, April.
    16. Isaac Maina Kariuki & Jens‐Peter Loy & Thomas Herzfeld, 2012. "Farmgate Private Standards and Price Premium: Evidence From the GlobalGAP Scheme in Kenya's French Beans Marketing," Agribusiness, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 28(1), pages 42-53, January.
    17. Islam, S.M. Fakhrul & Jabbar, Mohammad A., 2010. "Consumer preferences and demand for livestock products in urban Bangladesh," Research Reports 97972, International Livestock Research Institute.
    18. Ayele, Gezahegn & Jabbar, Mohammad A. & Teklewold, Hailemariam & Mulugeta, Elias & Getahun, Kebede, 2006. "Seasonal and inter-market differences in prices of small ruminants in Ethiopia," Research Reports 182989, International Livestock Research Institute.
    19. Miller, Andrew D. & Langley, Suchada V. & Chambers, William, 2003. "Current Issues Affecting Trade And Trade Policy: An Annotated Literature Review," Working Papers 14596, International Agricultural Trade Research Consortium.
    20. Jabbar, M. A. & Diedhiou, M. L., 2003. "Does breed matter to cattle farmers and buyers?: Evidence from West Africa," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 45(3), pages 461-472, July.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Consumer/Household Economics;

    JEL classification:

    • D12 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Empirical Analysis
    • Q13 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - Agricultural Markets and Marketing; Cooperatives; Agribusiness

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:ags:puaesp:28684. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: AgEcon Search (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://edirc.repec.org/data/dapurus.html .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.