Willingness to pay for biopesticides for tomato cultivation in Burkina Faso

Abstract

This study aims to assess the willingness to pay (WTP) for biopesticides among producers and identify the factors influencing this WTP for the use of biopesticides in tomato farms in the provinces of Houet, Sourou, Oubritenga and Passoré in Burkina Faso. A survey was conducted among a random sample of 904 producers using a semi-structured questionnaire and the referendum method to reveal the producers’ preferences for biopesticides. Data analysis shows that producers are highly aware of the dangers associated with heavily agrochemical-based production methods. More than 80% of the sampled producers consent to paying for biopesticides, but with a relatively low average WTP of 14,180 FCFA. The estimation of a logistic model indicates that factors influencing producers’ decision to pay include gender, household size, producer experience, income from vegetable farming, and the amount of the proposed bid. Additionally, perception variables such as the perceived effectiveness of biopesticides and the level of information about biopesticides positively influence the willingness to pay. However, contextual differences and significant heterogeneity among producers may introduce biases in estimating the average WTP and identifying these determinants.

Keywords: Willingness to pay, contingent valuation method, logit model, biopesticides, Burkina Faso