Factors Influencing Adoption of Improved Coffee Varieties Among Smallholder Farmers in Mbinga and Mbozi Districts

Abstract

Tanzania Coffee Research Institute (TaCRI) has released 19 Arabica coffee hybrid varieties that combine high yields with resistance to Coffee Leaf Rust (CLR) and Coffee Berry Disease (CBD). The high yield attribute of these improved varieties and reduced fungicide costs would normally motivate smallholder farmers to adopt them. However, their level of adoption by smallholders and factors influencing it have not been studied in detail. This study aimed at assessing smallholder farmers’ perception of the varieties and determine factors influencing their adoption in Mbinga and Mbozi districts. Data were collected from a sample of 218 adopters and 102 non-adopters making a total of 320 farmers using household survey questionnaire. The perception of smallholder farmers on attributes of those coffee varieties was gauged using five-point Likert scale. A logistic regression model was employed to determine factors influencing their adoption. Findings from the study revealed that the improved coffee varieties are positively perceived by many smallholder coffee farmers for their high yields, good beverage quality and disease resistance. Coefficient of socio-economic characteristics, attributes of improved coffee varieties and institutional factors were found to be significant (P≤0.01) and positively related to likelihood of adoption of improved coffee varieties. Among the major adoption impediments identified, low access to improved seedlings topped the list. Coffee farmers should be encouraged to adopt the improved coffee varieties and undertake gradual rehabilitation of their old coffee trees either by total replacement of the traditional coffee varieties or by grafting improved scions onto the old healthy rootstocks. The coffee industry should strengthen extension services so as to speed up dissemination of research technologies, including the seedlings of improved varieties to farmers and training them on good agricultural practices; while the government should invest more resources to assist the coffee industry stakeholders in that direction.