Abstract:
Poultry production is gaining a wider importance in Kiambu County as a source of food and income generation. The egg productivity and quality are important factors considered by consumers. The production is however insufficient, unsustainable, and constrained by lack of quality feed. There is a drive to use insects for feed, particularly black soldier fly larvae as an alternative in commercial poultry feed to remedy this situation. However, important information to support the use of insects in commercial poultry feed is scanty. The general objective of this study was to contribute to a diversified commercialized black soldier fly- based chicken feed for egg production as a way of improving consumer welfare. Specific objectives of this study were: to detennine consumers’ perception of eggs derived from black soldier fly larvae-based feed; consumers’ socioeconomic and institutional factors significantly affecting the perceptions and finally to evaluate the willingness to pay for eggs derived from black soldier fly larvae-based feed. The study used a descriptive research design. Multistage sampling was used to select 200 consumers who were interviewed using a prctested semi-structured questionnaire. Data was analyzed using Exploratory Factor Analysis (EPA), binary logistic regression and Random Parameter Logistic (RPL) regression. Results indicate that consumers positively perceive eggs produced from commercial insect- based feed. Perception of these eggs was influenced by gender, awareness of insects as feed, off-fann income, household income, nature of buying place, and access to credit with positive coefficients of 0.78, 1.41, 1.27, 0.91, 0.85, 1.0, and 0.31 respectively. The RPL was used to analyze conjoint analysis data and estimated the relative importance of main attributes that affect consumer preferences for eggs. The RPL analysis indicated heterogenous and high preference for attributes of eggs produced from insect-based feed as all attributes were significant at 0.00. The results show that consumers prefer golden yellow yolk eggs and eggs derived from black soldier fly larvae-based feed. It was also found that price was the most important attribute in determining consumer preferences. The results from this study instill hope in sustainable use of insects in poultry feed through promoting the consumption of insect-based food products based on the insights from the desirable egg attributes.
