Perception of seed fraud and farmer behavior: value of maize seed certification in Kenya
Date
2018
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Publisher
University of Delaware
Abstract
Seed fraud is an emerging problem in Kenya. Seed companies have recently started marketing their improved seed varieties with novel features to ensure farmers of its authenticity. However, no study has investigated how farmers perceive the new certification features on seed packets nor estimated how much farmers discount seed packets that have been tampered with. Using an economic field experiment, this study analyzes 1) the value farmers attach to new seed certification features and the discount they apply to tampered packets, 2) the effect of training about best seed purchasing practices on farmers’ willingness to pay (WTP) for seed packets, and 3) the effect of perceptions of seed fraud on farmer’s WTP for improved varieties. The Becker-DeGroot-Marschak (BDM) mechanism was used to elicit participants’ WTP for six different maize packets, including a seed packet directly from the seed company, four packets purchased from multiple sources (three had been tampered with), and a packet of local seed. Participants were willing to pay a premium for a seed packet purchased directly from the seed company. Farmer training on best seed purchasing practices led to a significant reduction in WTP for tampered packets. Perceptions about the prevalence of seed fraud had no effect in WTP. Substantial effort will be needed to educate farmers on how to identify high-quality genuine agricultural inputs, like improved seed varieties. Quality assurance and frequent training on best seed purchasing practices may be particularly valuable when fraudulent seeds exist in the market. Additionally, more information is needed on seed packets to help farmers make informed purchasing decisions – e.g. functions of certification features, the meaning and significance of the printed sampling date, and the introduction of warning labels.