Farmers’ willingness to pay for foot and mouth disease vaccine in different cattle production systems in Amhara region of Ethiopia

Abstract

Although foot and mouth disease (FMD) is endemic in Ethiopia, use of vaccines to control the disease has been practiced sparingly. This is due to perceived high cost of good quality FMD vaccine, and consequently limited availability of the vaccine in the market. This study was conducted to assess farmers' willingness to pay (WTP) for a quality FMD vaccine and identify factors that could potentially influence their WTP in Amhara region of Ethiopia. A total of 398 farmers from four districts that represent the mixed crop-livestock and market oriented production systems were enrolled for the study. The WTP was estimated using contingent valuation method with a double-bound dichotomous choice bid design. Interval regression analysis was used to estimate mean WTP and identify factors that influence it. The results showed that the mean WTP of all farmers was Ethiopian Birr (ETB) 58.23 (95% CI: 56.20-60.26)/annual dose. It was ETB 75.23 (95% CI: 72. 97-74.49) for market oriented farmers and ETB 42.6 (95%CI: 41.24-43.96) for mixed crop livestock farmers. Willingness to pay for the vaccine was significantly higher for farmers in market oriented system than in mixed crop livestock system. It was also significantly higher for farmers whose main livelihood is livestock than those whose main livelihood is other than livestock, and for farmers who keep exotic breed cattle and their crosses than those who keep only local cattle breeds. Willingness to pay significantly increased with increase in FMD impact perception and vaccine knowledge scores of farmers. The high mean WTP estimates showed that farmers are enthusiastic about using the FMD vaccine. Market-oriented farmers with higher willingness to pay may be more likely to pay full cost if official FMD vaccination is planned in the country than mixed crop livestock farmers. Animal health extension about livestock diseases impact and vaccines has a potential to increase farmers' uptake of vaccines for disease control.

Assessment of Farmers Knowledge and Attitude on Vaccination of Livestock and its Implications in Ejere District of West Shewa Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia

“…This was comparable with from selected districts of Sidama Zone Southern Region, Ethiopia in which 71.1% of the farmers believed that animal diseases can occur after vaccinations were seen [15]. In present study, 51% of the farmers are believed that vaccines are readily available as well as 61.7% of the farmers in this study weren't voluntary to vaccinate their animals when the vaccines have fee; which was comparable with study carried out in Amhara region, Ethiopia, in which farmers unwillingness to pay for FMD vaccines were seen [31]. In present study, 30% of the farmers agreed that vaccines are too expensive and this was in contrast with study conducted in KwaZulu-Natal south Africa in which 16% of the farmers disagreed with this statement were observed [27].…”

Epidemiological study and dairy farmers’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices on foot and mouth disease in central Ethiopia

“…This could be due to farmers' fear of abortion and premature calving of their pregnant cattle. Jemberu et al [ 42 ] stated that vaccines have been used sparingly to control the disease due to the perceived high cost of FMD vaccine as well as the vaccine's limited market availability. The date of vaccination reported varies among the farmers.…”

Epidemiological Dynamics of Foot-and-Mouth Disease in the Horn of Africa: The Role of Virus Diversity and Animal Movement

“…Systematic control of FMD by vaccination has never been attempted in the Horn of Africa except for sporadic vaccination programs performed by farmers in urban areas who practice a semi-intensive production system. In the pastoralist areas, vaccination against FMD has never been attempted, at least not in Ethiopia [102]. Further, proactive vaccination ahead of the wave of infection in the function of serotype identification would help to reduce the burden [103].…”