Gendered analysis of the demand for poultry feed in Kenya

ABSTRACT This paper uses a translog cost function approach to study the farm-level demand for poultry feed in Kenya. The study estimates the demand elasticities of the three common types of poultry feed; mixed feed, grain, and leafy vegetables. The estimated model was used to obtain estimates of Marshallian demand elasticities for poultry feed in Kenya for male-headed and female-headed households. The elasticities reported can be used by researchers and policy analysts to evaluate policy effects of changes in feed demand quantities within the livestock economy in Kenya. Moreover, these parameters can provide more reliable estimates of the total change in feed demand than relying on subjective measures of elasticities. Furthermore, the results of this study are essential in enhancing gender equitable policy formulation. Our findings show that own price elasticities of demand for all the feed types are negative and less than unit in absolute value for the sample of farmers surveyed, indicating that the feed types are relatively inelastic. The cross-price elasticities indicate that vegetables and grain are compliments while the rest of the poultry feed types are substitutes. The results also show that there are substantial gender differences in feed demand and elasticities of feed demand with respect to feed prices.