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

Joseph Rajabu Kangile, Reuben M. J. Kadigi, Charles Peter Mgeni, Bernadetha Pantaleo Munishi, Japhet Kashaigili and Pantaleo K. T. Munishi
Additional contact information
Joseph Rajabu Kangile: School of Agricultural Economics and Business Studies, Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA), Morogoro P.O. Box 3007, Tanzania
Reuben M. J. Kadigi: School of Agricultural Economics and Business Studies, Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA), Morogoro P.O. Box 3007, Tanzania
Charles Peter Mgeni: School of Agricultural Economics and Business Studies, Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA), Morogoro P.O. Box 3007, Tanzania
Bernadetha Pantaleo Munishi: Directorate of Research and Innovations, Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI), Dodoma P.O. Box 1571, Tanzania
Japhet Kashaigili: College of Forestry, Wildlife and Tourism, Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA), Morogoro P.O. Box 3007, Tanzania
Pantaleo K. T. Munishi: College of Forestry, Wildlife and Tourism, Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA), Morogoro P.O. Box 3007, Tanzania

Agriculture, 2021, vol. 11, issue 10, 1-18

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.

Keywords: sustainability; endogenous switching regression; coffee; certification; environmental conservation; livelihoods (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/11/10/931/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/11/10/931/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jagris:v:11:y:2021:i:10:p:931-:d:644554

Access Statistics for this article

Agriculture is currently edited by Ms. Leda Xuan

More articles in Agriculture from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().