AN ESTIMATION OF INDIVIDUAL DEMAND FUNCTION FOR CHICKENS IN IRAQ DURING THE PERIOD (1980_2012)

Abstract

The chicken meat considered as one of the important food sources for human, there was an increased in the demand about it in Iraq in the last term because of the high prices of red meat as a chief rival for the white meat, which includes chicken meat and fish, So be required to prepare such a study to identify the current status of the demand for chicken meat in Iraq, by the most important determinants of the demand for chicken meat in the period (1980-2012) . Variables model, parameters were estimated using a standard model in several formulas. The results showed that the double logarithmic function is the best of those functions as first and second class tests, and its agreement with the concepts of economic theory, and through the cross elasticity of demand turns out that there was substitution between red meat and chicken meat. The satisfaction obtained from the consumption of chicken meat was appropriate because of the low Income elasticity of demand, were classified as normal commodity necessary because the modulus of elasticity lie between (zero and one). Finally, the study included a number of conclusions and recommendations include ,the Iraqi production of chicken meat was not enough to meet the need of domestic consumption as noticed the presence of compound annual growth rate the production -1.9%, so the Iraq fills the needs of current product concerned through the private importation from various countries around the world. The study recommended the achievement of self-sufficiency and financial resources saved from dropping out of the country because of import cover the deficit or supplement the requirements of the offer, equivalent to the demand.