Positive influence of certification on the financial performance of cocoa production models in Cameroon

Guillaume Lescuyer and Simon Bassanaga
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Guillaume Lescuyer: UPR Forêts et Sociétés - Forêts et Sociétés - Cirad - Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement

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Abstract: Cameroon plans to double its cocoa production in the coming decade in line with international requirements for sustainable and deforestation-free cocoa. Private certification, which has developed considerably in recent years, should help achieve this objective. Based on a literature review and 63 individual interviews with farmers, we identified four archetypes of cocoa production using the criteria of plantation size, degree of shade, and support from public or private extension services. We analyzed the average operating accounts of the four archetypes. Our findings show that the net profit rates obtained by small-scale certified producers are 14% (in the savannah zone) and 24% (in the forest zone). These rates are much higher than for the other two production models. Certification schemes provide technical and financial support, which has a positive influence on the practices of many small-scale producers and compensates for the lack of public services, which are now almost non-existent. A hybrid governance of the cocoa sector in Cameroon could clarify and improve the organization of the interactions between public regulation and private certification systems.

Keywords: Cameroun; certification; système de production; résultat de l'exploitation agricole; Theobroma cacao; viabilité économique; revenu de l'exploitation; bénéfice; enquête sur les exploitations agricoles; petite exploitation agricole; savane; Cacao; Rainforest alliance; Agroforestry; Zero deforestation; Profit; Value added; Congo Basin (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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Published in Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 2021, 5, pp.743079. ⟨10.3389/fsufs.2021.743079⟩

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:hal:journl:hal-05177614

DOI: 10.3389/fsufs.2021.743079

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