Consumer choice of dry common beans in Malawi: the case of Lilongwe City

Phiri, Horace · Edriss, Abdi Khalil · Mapemba, Lawrence · Tumeo, Marynia

Sep 2017 · MaSSP Working Paper Ibhuku elingu-19 · Intl Food Policy Res Inst

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Considering the potential of grain legumes for reducing hunger and malnutrition, this paper aims at identifying factors shaping demand for and consumption of dry common bean from a consumer’s perspective. Understanding and addressing these factors has potential to increase common bean consumption by enabling breeders to breed common beans with attributes that are preferred by consumers. The study employed a quantitative approach to assess various aspects of household common bean consumption from primary data collected in Lilongwe city. The study results suggest that socio-economic factors such as household size, education, gender, income, and number of children under the age of five years in the household play an important role in a household’s decision to consume common beans and the respective quantities consumed. Various product attributes such as grain size, gravy quality, and cooking time also influenced a household’s decision to consume common beans.