Consumer preference and willingness to pay for fish farmed in treated wastewater in Ghana

The reuse of treated wastewater for aquaculture has been practiced in several countries and has a potential to create a viable fish farming business in low income countries. However, wastewater aquaculture practices which satisfy health and hygiene guidelines and standards will not be viable if cons...

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Autores principales: Gebrezgabher, Solomie A., Amewu, Sena, Amoah, Philip
Formato: Conference Paper
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: 2015
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/75796
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author Gebrezgabher, Solomie A.
Amewu, Sena
Amoah, Philip
author_browse Amewu, Sena
Amoah, Philip
Gebrezgabher, Solomie A.
author_facet Gebrezgabher, Solomie A.
Amewu, Sena
Amoah, Philip
author_sort Gebrezgabher, Solomie A.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description The reuse of treated wastewater for aquaculture has been practiced in several countries and has a potential to create a viable fish farming business in low income countries. However, wastewater aquaculture practices which satisfy health and hygiene guidelines and standards will not be viable if consumers are unwilling to purchase fish reared in treated wastewater. In this study we investigate consumers’ preference and willingness to pay for fish farmed in treated wastewater in Ghana. A consumer survey was conducted in Kumasi. We utilize a dichotomous-choice contingent valuation methodology to estimate willingness to pay for fresh Tilapia and smoked Catfish farmed in treated wastewater and analyze factors that affect consumer choice. Consumers in the survey ranked price, size and quality of fish measured by taste and freshness as the most important product attributes influencing their decision prior to purchasing fish. Source of fish is among the least important product attributes influencing consumers’ decision. Results indicate that surveyed consumers generally accept fish reared in treated wastewater if lower prices are offered. Socioeconomic factors such as household income, education and family size significantly determine consumers’ willingness to pay. Furthermore, results indicate that households with children are more likely to pay for smoked Catfish compared to fresh Tilapia indicating that postharvest processing of fish might be perceived as safer and thus increases consumers’ willingness to pay for smoked Catfish. The results of this study provide better understanding of fish consumers’ buying behavior and their perceptions of and attitude towards fish reared in treated wastewater. Moreover, results can contribute to identifying key product attributes that need to be targeted for improvement if sales of fish farmed in treated wastewater is to be achieved.
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spelling CGSpace757962025-03-11T09:50:20Z Consumer preference and willingness to pay for fish farmed in treated wastewater in Ghana Gebrezgabher, Solomie A. Amewu, Sena Amoah, Philip wastewater water reuse aquaculture consumer behavior user charges models socioeconomic environment households food consumption public health feeding habits freshwater catfish tilapia The reuse of treated wastewater for aquaculture has been practiced in several countries and has a potential to create a viable fish farming business in low income countries. However, wastewater aquaculture practices which satisfy health and hygiene guidelines and standards will not be viable if consumers are unwilling to purchase fish reared in treated wastewater. In this study we investigate consumers’ preference and willingness to pay for fish farmed in treated wastewater in Ghana. A consumer survey was conducted in Kumasi. We utilize a dichotomous-choice contingent valuation methodology to estimate willingness to pay for fresh Tilapia and smoked Catfish farmed in treated wastewater and analyze factors that affect consumer choice. Consumers in the survey ranked price, size and quality of fish measured by taste and freshness as the most important product attributes influencing their decision prior to purchasing fish. Source of fish is among the least important product attributes influencing consumers’ decision. Results indicate that surveyed consumers generally accept fish reared in treated wastewater if lower prices are offered. Socioeconomic factors such as household income, education and family size significantly determine consumers’ willingness to pay. Furthermore, results indicate that households with children are more likely to pay for smoked Catfish compared to fresh Tilapia indicating that postharvest processing of fish might be perceived as safer and thus increases consumers’ willingness to pay for smoked Catfish. The results of this study provide better understanding of fish consumers’ buying behavior and their perceptions of and attitude towards fish reared in treated wastewater. Moreover, results can contribute to identifying key product attributes that need to be targeted for improvement if sales of fish farmed in treated wastewater is to be achieved. 2015 2016-06-23T05:57:54Z 2016-06-23T05:57:54Z Conference Paper https://hdl.handle.net/10568/75796 en Open Access Gebrezgabher, Solomie A.; Amewu, Sena; Amoah, Philip. 2015. Consumer preference and willingness to pay for fish farmed in treated wastewater in Ghana. Paper presented at the AAEA and WAEA [Agricultural and Applied Economics Association and Western Agricultural Economics Association] Joint Annual Meeting, San Francisco, California, USA, 26-28 July 2015. 22p.
spellingShingle wastewater
water reuse
aquaculture
consumer behavior
user charges
models
socioeconomic environment
households
food consumption
public health
feeding habits
freshwater catfish
tilapia
Gebrezgabher, Solomie A.
Amewu, Sena
Amoah, Philip
Consumer preference and willingness to pay for fish farmed in treated wastewater in Ghana
title Consumer preference and willingness to pay for fish farmed in treated wastewater in Ghana
title_full Consumer preference and willingness to pay for fish farmed in treated wastewater in Ghana
title_fullStr Consumer preference and willingness to pay for fish farmed in treated wastewater in Ghana
title_full_unstemmed Consumer preference and willingness to pay for fish farmed in treated wastewater in Ghana
title_short Consumer preference and willingness to pay for fish farmed in treated wastewater in Ghana
title_sort consumer preference and willingness to pay for fish farmed in treated wastewater in ghana
topic wastewater
water reuse
aquaculture
consumer behavior
user charges
models
socioeconomic environment
households
food consumption
public health
feeding habits
freshwater catfish
tilapia
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/75796
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AT amewusena consumerpreferenceandwillingnesstopayforfishfarmedintreatedwastewateringhana
AT amoahphilip consumerpreferenceandwillingnesstopayforfishfarmedintreatedwastewateringhana