Food Standards, Certification, and Poverty among Coffee Farmers in Uganda

Brian Chiputwa, David Spielman and Matin Qaim

World Development, 2015, vol. 66, issue C, 400-412

Abstract: Voluntary standards are gaining in importance in global markets for high-value foods. We analyze and compare impacts of three sustainability-oriented standards – Fairtrade, Organic, and UTZ – on the livelihoods of smallholder coffee farmers in Uganda. Using survey data and propensity score matching with multiple treatments, we find that Fairtrade certification increases household living standards by 30% and reduces the prevalence and depth of poverty. For the other two certification schemes, no significant impacts are found. Several factors that can explain differential impacts are discussed. Overly general statements about the effects of sustainability standards on smallholder livelihoods may be misleading.

Keywords: smallholder farmers; impact assessment; Organic; Fairtrade; Uganda; Africa (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (96)

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Related works:
Working Paper: Food standards, certification, and poverty among coffee farmers in Uganda (2014)
Working Paper: Food Standards, Certification, and Poverty among Coffee Farmers in Uganda (2013)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:wdevel:v:66:y:2015:i:c:p:400-412

DOI: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2014.09.006

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