Investigating the economic factors affecting the acceptance of medicinal plants in Khorramabad city (Application: Tobit pattern and Heckman two-step method)

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Agricultural Extesion and Education, Faculty of Agriculture, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran

2 Department of Agricultural Economics, Sayyed Jamaleddin Asadabadi University, Asadabad, Hamedan, Iran

Abstract

Medicinal plants are one of the valuable resources in the extensive level of Iran's nature that can play an important role in community health, job creation and increasing non-oil exports. The first step in market development and profitability of medicinal plants is to identify the behavior of consumers in the acceptance of medicinal plants. The main object of this study was to investigate the economic factors affecting the acceptance of medicinal plants in Khorramabad city using the Tobit model and Heckman two-stage method. The required data of the model were collected using simple random sampling method by 384 questionnaires. According to the research results, in the first stage, income with a coefficient of 0.26 has a positive and significant effect on consumption of medicinal plants. The variables of access cost, trust to the medical plants, as well as the learning to consumers and sellers variable with coefficients of 0.006, 0.008 and 0.02, respectively, have a positive effect on consumption. In the second stage, the variable of chemical insurance coverage with a coefficient of -0.07 has a negative and significant effect on consumption. and the variable of satisfaction with the positive effect of medicinal plants consumption with a coefficient of 0.16 has a positive and significant effect on the amount of medicinal plants consumption.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Extended Abstract

Objectives

Medicinal plants are one of the valuable resources in the extensive level of Iran's nature that can play an important role in community health, job creation and increasing non-oil exports. The first step in market development and profitability of medicinal plants is to identify the behavior of consumers in the acceptance of medicinal plants. Due to the importance of Lorestan province in the production of medicinal plants, awareness of the effective factors of using medicinal plants and the possibility of information in this regard is important to change the behavior of individuals in order to use medicinal plants. Identifying the effective factors on the acceptance of medicinal plants can play an important role in increasing farmers' incomes, increasing employment, developing agro-food industries, as well as increasing exports and investment for the agricultural sector. The main object of this study was to investigate the economic factors affecting the acceptance of medicinal plants in Khorramabad city using the Tobit model and Heckman two-stage method.

 

Methods

    This research is an applied type that has been done by using a survey method and completing a questionnaire to achieve the desired goals. In accepting medicinal plants, a dependent variable has been used with dual selection that requires a selected qualitative pattern. Therefore, the selective pattern in this method is a zero and one pattern that indicates the rejection or acceptance of medicinal plants. In estimating the willingness to acceptance (WTA) medicinal plants according to the type of data, how to obtain the proposed values and also the purpose of the study, different operational model can be used, such as estimating Logit functions, linear Probit, Tobit and two stage Hackmann methods. Due to the fact that in this study it is necessary to distinguish between the factors affecting the acceptance of medicinal plants and the acceptance rate of medicinal plants, therefore, the Tobit and Hackman model has been used. The required data of the model were collected using simple random sampling method by 384 questionnaires. Independent variables used in the Probit model include age, income, education, advertisements about the properties of medicinal plants, satisfaction with the price of medicinal plants, gender, cost of access to medicinal plants, education on the properties and use of medicinal plants and confidence that medicinal plants are not harmful. Independent variables used in the linear regression model include number of elderly people (60 years and older), education, insurance coverage, income, cost of access to medicinal plants, education on the properties and uses of medicinal plants, confidence in the safety of medicinal plants, health satisfaction and the quality of medicinal plants and the belief in the effectiveness of medicinal plants in the treatment of diseases.

 

Results

    The results of the descriptive section showed that the highest frequency of respondents is related to people between 48 and 63 years old with a frequency of 36.2 and the lowest percentage is related to people between 18 and 33 years old who have a frequency of 4.9. The number of household members with the highest frequency of 63.5 is related to 2 to 4 people with a gender variable, the highest frequency of gender respondents are women with 54.20% and 45.80% of men. Also, 67.20% of the respondents were married and 31.50% were single. According to the research results, in the first stage, income with a coefficient of 0.26 percent has a positive and significant effect on consumption of medicinal plants. The variables of access to cost, trust to the medical plants, as well as the learning to consumers and sellers' variable with coefficients of 0.006, 0.008 and 0.02, respectively, have a positive effect on consumption. In the second stage, the variable of chemical insurance coverage with a coefficient of -0.07 has a negative and significant effect on consumption and the variable of satisfaction with the positive effect of medicinal plants consumption with a coefficient of 0.16 has a positive and significant effect on the amount of medicinal plants consumption.

 

Discussion

    Based on the research results and the positive and significant impact of insurance services on increasing the use of herbal medicines, therefore, it is necessary to develop a plan to include herbal medicines in the country's pharmaceutical system or outside the system to provide cheap services for these products. Considering the positive effect of culture index in increasing consumption, culture building to expand the capabilities of traditional medicine in the country and the development of drugs based on herbal products can be an important and valuable step in this concern. Considering that the level of education is a positive and significant factor in the consumption of medicinal plants, increasing the level of information in the community can be an effective factor in increasing the consumption of medicinal plants. Given the importance of the expert advice index in pharmacies and supply centers of herbal medicinal products, providing the necessary advice and sales promotion policies in supply centers such as perfumeries and pharmacies can help change the use of chemical drugs to herbal. Also, with the necessary planning, the advisory support and contribution of physicians can be used to advise and promote the culture of using medicinal plants.

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Iranian Journal of Agricultural Economics and Development Research
Volume 54, Issue 2
July 2023
Pages 543-555

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