The Effect of Sustainable Coffee Certification Schemes on the Benefits of Coffee Certification: The Case of Certified Commercial Coffee Farms in Southwestern Ethiopia
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Date
2017-05
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The aim of this study is to assess if in practice the certification schemes could deliver benefits on the
three acknowledged sustainability pillars-economic, social, and environmental- at the level of
certified commercial coffee farms in southwestern Ethiopia. Primary source of data was employed to
generate the data of interest. Data was collected using structured questionnaires from 135
respondents who were selected by purposive sampling from seven certified commercial coffee farms
by considering their familiarity with certification and the seven certified farms were selected by simple
random sampling from 16 certified commercial coffee farms operating in southwestern Ethiopia. The
questionnaire data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlations, and Chi-Square analysis.
Results show the various coffee certification programmes could deliver benefits over the three
pillars of sustainability- economic, social and environmental –to the certified commercial coffee
farms. The study further finds the practice of farming system, working and living conditions and
environmental protection have significant effect on the three acknowledged pillars of sustainability.
But no significant effect is recorded for the marketing dimension of certification. The study also finds
that multiple certification is more beneficial than single certification but the relative high costs
associated with them may hinder the broader adoption of the schemes by the coffee farms. The study
indicates the number of certified commercial farms in Ethiopia are very few in number regardless of
the rapid growth and necessity of certification globally.
In general, certified commercial coffee farms can be benefited from certification schemes. The
study recommends successful engagement with the certification programmes and effective adherence
to standards of various certification schemes by the certified commercial coffee farms will enhance
the benefits from certification at higher level. The study further recommends the need for
harmonization of the various certification schemes or alignment of their standards globally in order
to reduce costs and time to implement the multiple certification and the need to have national
certification policy and local accreditation bodies to facilitate and support the smooth joining and
easy access of certification in the country. The study also indicates areas for further research
including analyzing reasons for other commercial coffee farms for not joining the programmes and
the net benefits achieved from individual certification scheme by comparing certified against noncertified
commercial farms.
Key Words: coffee, certification benefits, sustainability, economic, social, environment, southwestern
Ethiopia
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Keywords
coffee, certification benefits, sustainability, economic,, social, environment, southwestern Ethiopia