Dynamics of Coffee Certifications in Producer Countries: Re-Examining the Tanzanian Status, Challenges and Impacts on Livelihoods and Environmental Conservation

Joseph Rajabu Kangile,Pantaleo K T Munishi,Bernadetha Pantaleo Munishi,Japhet Kashaigili,Reuben M J Kadigi,Charles Peter Mgeni

doi:10.3390/agriculture11100931

Joseph Rajabu Kangile, Pantaleo K T Munishi + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture11100931

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Abstract

Certification is increasingly becoming necessary for accessing coffee export markets and practicing environmental conservation, especially at this time when many of the farmers in developing countries strive to achieve agricultural transformation. Using data from 400 randomly selected coffee farmers in Tanzania, the study determined the status, constraints, key drivers, and impact of coffee certifications. Descriptive statistics and the endogenous switching regression (ESR) model were used for data analysis. Results indicated that the level of coffee certification is low, being constrained by unawareness and inaccessibility, the prevalence of coffee diseases, failure in realizing price advantages, and certification not being cost effective. Economies of scale, experience, and participation in collective actions are significant factors affecting coffee farmers’ decision to join certification schemes. Additionally, the study rejects the hypothesis of certification to improve household income. However, certification improved awareness and practices of environmental conservation among coffee farmers. It is thus important to embark on awareness creation and make certification services accessible and cost effective to coffee farmers for increased access to niche export markets. Easing transmission of price premiums to coffee farmers will also increase the supply of sustainably grown coffee, improve coffee farmers’ livelihood, and help in the attainment of environmental sustainability goals within the coffee supply chain.

Highlights

Certification is an important economic tool that is used to promote social-economic and environmental conservation objectives in the world [1]
It is clear that most farmers who were not engaged in certification schemes were male adults
Coffee farmers need to join the certification schemes to be capable of accessing niche export markets and to gain social, economic, and environmental benefits associated with certification

Summary

Introduction

Certification is an important economic tool that is used to promote social-economic and environmental conservation objectives in the world [1]. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations FAO [5], sustainable development is “the management and conservation of the natural resource base, and the orientation of technological and institutional change in such a manner as to ensure the attainment and continued satisfaction of human needs for present and future generations. Such sustainable development (in the agriculture sector in particular) conserves land, water, plant and animal genetic resources, in environmentally non-degrading, technologically appropriate, economically viable and socially acceptable way”. Retailers, non-governmental organizations, governments, and other actors of the private sector have developed certification schemes aimed at achieving sustainable development

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