Farmer Preferences on Seed Purchase Timing: Some Evidence From Nigeria

Timely availability of seeds, typically immediately before the planting season, is considered one of the important factors for rapid adoption of quality seeds of improved varieties in Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries. Empirical information on whether farmers are willing to pay (WTP) premium for obtaining seeds at their desired timing can help in assessing the feasibility of public sector support for timely delivery of quality seeds of improved varieties. This study estimates how farmers' WTP for seed varies depending on the timing of the purchase using both revealed preference (RP) and stated preference (SP) models. The results indicate that WTP varies with the timing. Low-income farmers in Nigeria may prefer to pay premium price for cowpea seeds if those seeds can be made available closer to the planting season, while most high-income farmers may pay the same price regardless of the timing. Implications for future research needs are discussed.