HOME JOURNALS CONTACT

Journal of Applied Sciences

Year: 2007 | Volume: 7 | Issue: 16 | Page No.: 2361-2365
DOI: 10.3923/jas.2007.2361.2365
Willingness to Pay for Annual Health Care Services in Small Ruminants: The Case of South India
G. Kathiravan, M. Thirunavukkarasu and P. Michealraj

Abstract: A study was undertaken in southern peninsular State of India, the Tamil Nadu State, to assess the farmers Willingness To Pay’ (WTP) for annual health care services in small ruminants. The districts of the State were categorized as Livestock Developed (LD) and Livestock Under Developed (LUD) based on initial base line developed. Contingent Valuation (CV) approach was used to study the farmers maximum WTP value for two types of health care services: (a) providing animal health care services at government veterinary centres, (b) extending animal health care services at farmers door steps. A Payment Card (PC) format was used to assess the farmers’ maximum WTP for ensuring health care services to sheep and goat. The Maximum Likelihood technique was used on interval midpoints. The study revealed that the farmers were willing to pay a maximum of INR 56.34 and INR 61.61 for availing health services to their sheep and goat, respectively, by in-centre services, while they were ready to offer INR 87.49 and INR 95.27 for the animal health services delivered at doorsteps. The mean maximum WTP value was found to be more for goats than sheep, postulated both in-centre and home services. Of the factors incorporated in the in-centre service model for sheep, age of respondent, livelihood share of livestock, number of sheep and VLU owned and distance from nearest public veterinary centre were found to significantly influence the WTP values. Unlike sheep, age of respondent, VLU possession, distance of the public veterinary centre and district versatility had a significant role in determining WTP values for goats. WTP values in sheep for home service were found to be significantly predisposed by all the significant factors of in-centre services model, except number of sheep owned. Similarly, in goat, the age of respondent turned to be insignificant in home services model. The results indicated that the people were willing to pay more for getting their small ruminants adequately protected from diseases and treated at once with quality services.

Fulltext PDF

How to cite this article
G. Kathiravan, M. Thirunavukkarasu and P. Michealraj, 2007. Willingness to Pay for Annual Health Care Services in Small Ruminants: The Case of South India. Journal of Applied Sciences, 7: 2361-2365.

Keywords: small ruminants, interval regression, contingent valuation, payment card, WTP, Willingness To Pay and animal health care

REFERENCES

  • Ahuja, V., K.E. McConnell, D.E. Umali and Haan, C-de, 2003. Are the poor willing to pay for livestock services? Evidence from rural India. Indian J. Agricl. Econ., 58: 84-99.
    Direct Link    


  • Cameron, T.A. and D.D. Huppert, 1989. OLS versus ML estimation of non-market resource values with payment card interval data. J. Environ. Econ. Manage., 17: 230-246.


  • Holden, S., S. Ashley and P. Bazeley, 1996. Improving the delivery of animal health services in developing countries: A literature review. A Report to the Overseas Development Administration of the United Kingdom, Somerset, UK.


  • Leonard, D.K., 1993. Structural reform of the veterinary profession in Africa and the new institutional economics. Dev. Change, 24: 227-267.
    CrossRef    


  • Morey, E., K. Rossmann, L. Chestnut and S. Ragland, 1997. Valuing acid deposition injuries to cultural resources. Center for Economic Analysis, University of Colorado, Washington DC

  • © Science Alert. All Rights Reserved