How do traders and consumers in sub-Saharan Africa value maize moisture content? Evidence from an experimental auction in Senegal

In SSA, if maize moisture content cannot be detected, traders and consumers have no incentive to dry maize to ≤ 13.0 percent moisture, resulting in fungal growth and aflatoxin contamination. Using an experimental auction in SSA, we elicit trader and consumer WTP for maize labeled with varying moisture contents. Participants revealed a preference for drier maize when they knew the moisture content, but could not distinguish between unlabeled maize dried to ≤ 13.0 percent moisture and 14-15.9 percent moisture.