Determinants of fluid milk purchasing sources in Ethiopia

Abstract

This study investigated main determinants affecting fluid milk purchasing sources of households in Ethiopia, from the collected household survey data, a multinomial logit model was estimated to analyze households' choices among processed, unpacked and both processcd-unpaeked fluid milk alternatives within the utility maximization framework. The results indicated thai number of children under age six, education level, income level, price, consumer type, physician advice, and fat content of processed fluid milk are the most important factors of household choice. Households with at least one child under the age of six, who considers the price of processed fluid milk more expensive that unpacked fluid milk of indigenous or native type cows are more likely to purchase proccssed-unpacked fluid milk. Similarly, household heads whose education levels arc formal and higher, who accept the statement 'price of processed fluid milk is expensive compared with unpacked fluid milk' of indigenous or native type are more likely to purchase unpacked fluid milk alternatives. Households with at least one child under the age of six, with middle and higher income ievels and believe in the statement 'processed fluid milk fattens their children' arc more likely to purchase proccssed-unpacked fluid milk sources. On the other hand, higher level income households, households who have at least one member has been ordered by a physician to consume milk, who accept the statement 'processed fluid milk fattens their children' tend to purchase processed fluid milk alternatives. The implications of these results for dairy value chain actors in development arc discussed.