Are Farmers Willing to Pay for Quality Planting Materials of Clonally Propagated Biofortified Crops? The Case of Orange-Fleshed Sweetpotatoe in Tanzania

Hidden hunger, resulting from micronutrient deficiency, is a major problem in developing countries. Vitamin A is one of the micronutrients that are widely deficient in diets of many rural households. Biofortified staples that are rich in beta carotene, a precursor for vitamin A, such as Orange Fleshed Sweetpotato (OFSP) can contribute to solving this problem. Recent efforts have therefore focused on sensitizing farmers about the benefits of OSFP while at the same time supplying highly subsidized quality (i.e., pest and diseases free) OFSP planting materials (i.e., vines), usually fee or at heavily subsidized prices. This study uses seemingly unrelated regression technique and data from 481 farmers to assess the demand for quality OFSP vines and the factors affecting the demand for such vines. It finds high willingness to pay for quality OFSP vines shown by the high willingness to pay. Demand for quality vines is affected by number of children, age, tastes, preferences, yield and Income. The study concludes that demand for quality OFSP vines is high, but still lower than for white-fleshed varieties. It discusses implications of the findings