Purpose This study aimed to investigate urban poultry farmers’ policy preferences in Tigray using a Best–Worst Scaling (BWS) approach. The study sought to identify the most and least preferred policy options and examine heterogeneity in preferences among farmers to support the design of effective and inclusive urban poultry farming development policies. Design/methodology/approach A sample of 400 urban poultry farmers was selected using a multi-stage sampling technique in Tigray. Data were collected through a structured survey and analyzed using descriptive statistics, mixed logit (ML) and latent class models (LCMs). In this study, the BWS method was employed to estimate farmers’ preferences and identify variations in policy priorities across different groups of producers. Findings Farmers showed the strongest preference for policies related to feed quality and safety, digital and financial inclusion, as well as market and infrastructure access. These preferences emphasize the importance of reliable inputs, stable markets and accessible financial services. Significant heterogeneity was observed across farmers. Class 1 farmers were generally older, more experienced and predominantly male, with a stronger subsistence orientation. Class 2 farmers were more diversified and engaged in multiple livelihood activities beyond poultry production. Research limitations/implications The study focuses exclusively on urban poultry farmers in Tigray, limiting the generalizability of the findings to other urban agricultural enterprises or rural areas. In addition, the analysis is based on cross-sectional data and does not incorporate the costs of policy options. Consequently, the results reflect farmers’ stated preferences at a single point in time and do not assess long-term impacts or cost-effectiveness in urban poultry farming. Social implications The findings provide evidence to help policymakers prioritize interventions that align with farmers’ preferences, increasing the likelihood of policy acceptance and effectiveness. Farmers are expected to benefit from policies that address their most pressing needs, thereby improving livelihoods, food security and participation in urban poultry value chains. Originality/value This study is the first to apply the BWS approach to examine urban poultry policy preferences in Tigray. By combining ML and LCMs, it provides novel insights into preference heterogeneity and offers evidence-based guidance for designing targeted and farmer-centered urban poultry policies.
Hailu et al. (Tue,) studied this question.