Abstract: This study determined factors influencing on consumer’s potential willingness to pay for organic products in Iran. Data collected with filling 240 questionnaires in 2006 from Mashhad’s households and analyzed using Tobit model. Results showed that product appearance and measure of consumers’ information is effective on willingness to pay for organic products. In addition, consumers’ anxieties from chemical residue in nutrition have positive effect on willingness to pay for these products. Also, results showed that household’s education level has negative effect on willingness to pay for organic products. encourage of consumers to organic products consumption, encourage farmers to produce organic products and without any chemical material and make sustainable marketing for organic products, increasing the households awareness about organic products, expansion of organic product cultivation, government payment for supporting of producers suggested.
INTRODUCTION
The increasing consumer demand for higher quality and safety food products makes organic food products an interesting consumption option. Interest in organically produced food is increasing throughout the world in response to concerns about intensive agricultural practices and their potential effect on human health as well as on the environment. In Iran, as in many Asian countries, the rapid socio-economic development was accompanied by a modernization and industrialization of the agri-food production. Loureiro et al. (2001) showed that factors affecting the probability of choosing organic apples are consumers’ environmental, food safety attitudes and socio-demographic characteristics. Results of Torjusen et al. (2001) indicated that income is positively related to the probability of buying organic foods, while other socio-demographic characteristics are not statistically significant. Millock et al. (2004) showed that higher income, age and education level of the consumer significantly increase the probability of consuming of organic foods. However, the presence of children does not have a significant impact on the probability of consuming organic food products. Chang and Zepeda (2005) revealed that consumers are more anxiety about utilized chemical material and its effect on environment and farm animal. Organic products consumers have more information toward organic products. Also have more tolerance for higher price of these products. Results also showed that more consumer information about organic farming and having label and access to organic products are the most effectiveness ways for transporting organic products to consumption path. Verhoef (2005) indicated that economic and marketing variables have significant effects on both the choice and the frequency of purchasing organic meat while consumers’ emotions, environmental considerations and socio-demographic characteristics only affect the frequency of purchase. Durham and Andrade (2005) showed that the main reasons for organic purchase are concern for health and the environment but environment is more effective of health in consumers’ decision to purchase. Also, price and demographic variables explain the buying decision. Results of Kuhar and Juvancic (2005) showed that income and the availability of the product in the store largely determine the purchasing frequency of organic fruit and vegetables. Moreover, two quality aspects of a food product (taste and visual attractiveness) and consumers’ environmental concerns are also factors explaining the frequency of purchasing organic fruit and vegetables. Tsakiridou et al. (2006) found that factors explaining the probability of purchase organic olive oil are income, household size, age and whether consumers pay attention to food labels when shopping. However, consumer’s attitudes towards organic product attributes (price, health, etc.), food safety and environmental concerns were not statistically significant in explaining the probability of purchasing organic olive oil. Onyango et al. (2007) showed that females, younger and more educated people are more likely to buy organic foods. In addition, food attributes such as naturalness, vegetarian and local production are important factors increasing consumers’ probability of purchasing organic foods. Wier et al. (2008) showed that organic food purchase decisions are primarily motivated by private good attributes such as freshness, taste and health benefits, attributes that may be perceived as being compatible with modern production and sales structure.
Khorasan Razavi is one of the most Northeast provinces of Iran. Mashhad is the biggest city of this province that has 2.85 million people. Agricultural sector in this province is one of the important regions of Iran. In recent year, a new wave for extension and cultivation of organic products is growing in this province especially in Mashhad. So, it is necessary that determine households views of Mashhad about consuming and potential willingness to pay for purchasing of organic product. This information can use in policy making about pricing and marketing of organic products in Khorasan Razavi Province. This research tries to study potential consumers’ views toward factors affecting on organic products demand on sample of Mashhad households from Khorasan Razavi Province of Iran.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Data
To potential consumers’ views toward factors affecting on organic
products demand and effectiveness of each factor on willingness to pay
for these products a survey carried out in 2006 in Khorasan Razavi Province.
For this purpose, a sample including 240 households of Mashhad selected
by using simple random sampling method. Mashhad placed in Northeast of
Iran and in Khorasan Razavi Province.
Tobit Model Specification
This research to study factors influencing on willingness to pay for
organic product used Tobit model that classify in limited dependent variables
models (Maddala, 1983). According to computed partnership index and defined
sensor threshold (a = 0) Tobit model defined as follow:
(1) |
where,
(2) |
(3) |
Equation 2 and 3 present probability on each zero and non zero observation respectively that P is probability distribution and F(0) is cumulative density function of determined error in B’Xi asures according to define of cumulative density function for censored random variable provide from Eq. 4:
(4) |
As ui in Eq. 1 for Yi more than zero means censored random variable and destitution function of Yi having similar distribution function as ui, therefore Eq. 4 for more that zero observation and if ui assumed to have normal distribution:
(5) |
where, δ2 is error term variance and π is the constant term, according to define, likelihood function determined by multiply probability distribution function of both sum of observation, means:
(6) |
where, Î 0 and Î 1, respectively equal to multiply observations that equal to zero and more than zero:
(7) |
Through maximum of Eq. 7 two parameters δ and B
or model parameters determined where
(8) |
(9) |
where, Cl KxNl , Xi matrix for bigger than zero observation and C0 is N0 matrix.
(10) |
where, Φ is probability distribution function (PDF) and Φ is
cumulative density function (CDF) and
(11) |
(12) |
Tobit model and ML estimator’s addition to present unbiased estimators provide the situation to separate change effects of each exogenous variable on dependent variable into two effects, change in probability of potentially responders to actually partners and effect of change in activity measure of present partners. Total effect (total elasticity) is change of each effective variables such as Xj on expected value which makes by Eq. 13 that Bj is the variable Xj estimated coefficient and is the probability of existence in actual partnerships and total effects separate as Eq.13:
(13) |
That first term from right hand shows effect of changes in variable Xj on partnership measure of enjoyed responders, multiply probability of settle in this group (effect of Yi > 0) and the second term from right hand shows changes in variable Xi on probability of enjoyment responder to partnerships of pay for organic foods, multiply expected value for partnerships (effect of Yi > 0).
Total elasticity = Observed elasticity (effect
of Yi > 0)+ expected elasticity (effect of YI
>0) |
Reported parameters as total effect, percent change in partnership measure for all of potentially and actually partnerships for one percent change in each o f independent variables and effect of Yi > 0 shows only same reaction from people that have potential partnership. Effect of Yi = 0 shows also same reaction from people that could have actual partnership and so that present probability of settle into actual partnerships (Loureiro et al., 2001).
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Economical-Socially Attributes
Table 1 showed economical- socially attributes of
the sample. Average age of responders is 35.81 years with 30.65 year in
men and average age 30.65 year in women. Also, average education of responders
is licentiate’s degree, average family size is 4 person and average
income of responders is about 2900 thousand rials per month.
According to Table 2 age, family size, organic products
external freshest are statistically significant. Education levels, family
size and nutrition value have negative effect on willingness to pay for
organic products. According to Table 2, with increasing
household’s age, willingness to pay for purchasing organic products
will increase. Older people have higher level of willingness to pay for
organic products. Because these households are more awareness toward organic
products. Several studies found that younger consumers have higher willingness
to purchase for organic products than older consumers. However, other
studies found that older consumers also have a high willingness to buy
organic products. Consumers, who have more income, higher level of willingness
to pay for organic products. Also, Wier et al. (2008) revealed
that disposable income, age and education significantly increase organic
budget share. Schobesberger et al. (2008) showed relationship between
income and education and purchasing of organic product is positive. Women
consumers have more willingness to pay for organic products because awareness
level of women about nutrition is high. Awareness about organic products
also has positive effect on willingness to pay for organic products. People
who have information about organic products have higher level of willingness
to pay. The other effective factor is anxiety about existence chemical
residue in nutrition. People that are anxiety about chemical residue,
have higher level of willingness to pay for purchasing organic products.
| Table 1: | Average key characteristics of selected sample |
| Table 2: | Tobit model of potential willingness to pay for purchasing of organic products |
| Squared correlation between observed and expected values = 0.21. **, *** Significant at 5 and 10% level; ns: Non-significant | |
| Table 3: | Elasticity of willingness to pay for organic products |
Wier et al. (2008) showed that health considerations play a major role in consumer preferences for organic foods. Other important attributes are environmental, animal welfare and quality attributes. Also, the pioneers of organic consumption were primarily motivated by environmental concerns, but that as food safety concerns increase, the demand for organic foods increases faster. According to Table 3, revealed that people age have positive relationship with willingness to pay, i.e., with increasing one unit of people age willingness to pay for organic products will increase 2.596%, that 1.524% of it is belong to people which now have willingness to pay for organic products and 1.072% of it belong to people that want to purchase organic product in future. Willingness to pay have negative relationship with education level such that with increasing education level, willingness to pay measure will decrease 1.085% that 0.637 of it belong to present consumers and 0.448% of it belong to people that want to purchase in future. Results showed that with increasing family size willingness to pay for organic products will increase, such that with increasing one unit of family size willingness to pay will decrease 1.566%, that 0.919% of it belong to consumers that want to purchase organic product now and 0.647% belong to people that will buy these products in future. Also, households income have positive but little effect on willingness to pay, such that with increasing one unit (10000 rials) in households income, willingness to pay will increase 0.768%, which 0.451% of it belong to current demand organic product and 0.317% belong to consumers that will purchase these products in future. Having anxiety toward existence chemical residue in conventional nutrition products is one of items that have positive effect on willingness to pay for organic products, i.e., with 1% increasing in anxiety about existence chemical residue willingness to pay for organic products will increase 1.38%, so 0.81% of this measure belong to households that want to consume organic products now and 0.57% belong to households that want to purchase these products in future. Results showed that organic product external will increase willingness to pay for these products. Therefore, if external products improve 1%, willingness to pay for organic product will increase 1.867% so that 1.096% of it belong to people that want to consume organic products now and 0.771% belong to groups of consumers that want to purchase organic product in future. Also, nutrition values are not important for consumers and even have negative effect on willingness to pay for organic products. As with 1% increase in nutrition value of products, will decrease willingness to pay equal to 2.962%, where -1.739% of it belong to that group of people want to consume organic products now and 1.223% of it belong to people that will consume this products at future.
According to estimated results, encourage of consumers to organic products consumption, encourage farmers to produce organic products and without any chemical material and make sustainable marketing for organic products, increasing the households awareness about organic products, expansion of organic product cultivation, government payment for supporting of producers suggested.
CONCLUSION
This study carried out to determine factors influencing on consumer’s potential willingness to pay for organic products in Iran by using data of 240 households of Mashhad and Tobit model in 2006. Results showed that product appearance and measure of consumers’ information is effective on willingness to pay for organic products. In addition, consumers’ anxieties from chemical residue in nutrition have positive effect on willingness to pay for these products. Also, results showed that household’s education level has negative effect on willingness to pay for organic products. Encourage of consumers to organic products consumption, encourage farmers to produce organic products and without any chemical material and make sustainable marketing for organic products, increasing the households awareness about organic products, expansion of organic product cultivation, government payment for supporting of producers suggested.