Browsing by Author "Magreta, Ruth"

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    Paying for convenience and higher micronutrients: Consumers’ willingness to pay for pre-cooked bean products in Malawi and Zambia
    Katungi, Enid; Larochelle, Catherine; Magreta, Ruth; Banda, Arnold (2024-07-30)
    Food consumption habits in sub-Saharan Africa have been influenced by urbanization and globalization, leading to unhealthy diets. Legumes, such as beans, have been part of balanced diets, however, their long cooking time has discouraged consumption. Using an experimental auction, we assess consumers’ willingness to pay (WTP) for pre-cooked beans to address long cooking times. In Zambia, the auction included two products, dehydrated beans and ready-to-eat beans, while in Malawi, only dehydrated beans were considered. The auction had three bidding rounds. The first round replicates standard food purchasing decisions in stores. In the second round, participants were informed about product convenience (time and cost saving), and in the last round, about the benefits of consuming high-iron beans (of which the products were made). Our results show a high WTP for pre-cooked bean products in three locations: Zambia urban, Malawi urban, and rural. Most consumers had WTPs that were higher than the market price. Information provision increased the cumulative WTP by 27% for dehydrated beans and 22% for ready-to-eat beans in Zambia, and by 33.5% for dehydrated beans in Malawi. Our results imply that by extensively promoting the advantages of these products among both urban and rural consumers, processors can expand their market share and recoup their marketing expenses.
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    Private sector led multi-stakeholder platforms positively influence certified common bean seed supply in Malawi
    Gondwe, Wanangwa; Phiri, Alexander; Birachi, Eliud; Magreta, Ruth; Larochelle, Catherine; Machira, Kennedy; Mutua, Mercy; Rubyogo, Jean Claude; Nkhata, Wilson (Cell Press, 2024-08-24)
    Common bean yields in Malawi remain low, primarily due to the use of low-yielding, recycled local seeds by most smallholder farmers. The low uptake of certified bean seed is attributed to limited incentives from the private sector. This study hypothesizes that the sustainable adoption of market-preferred varieties can be achieved by synchronizing and linking seed production to the grain market through committed value chain actors in a private sector-led multi-stakeholder platform. This paper examines the role of private sector-led multi-stakeholder platforms in the supply of certified common bean seed in Malawi. The research draws on both qualitative and quantitative primary data collected through a semi-structured questionnaire and interviews with key informants. Data were analyzed using an Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression model. The results indicate that several variables representing membership in multi-stakeholder platforms (MSPs) significantly affect the supply of certified common bean seed. Participation in MSPs, contractual arrangements, market structure, extension services, and seed demonstrations positively influenced seed supply. The findings underscore the need for a well-coordinated multi-stakeholder platform to enhance the supply of certified common bean seed, supported by effective policies and incentives from policymakers.