Coffee growers’ knowledge, attitude and practice of starbucks’ coffee and farmers equity certification scheme in Mbinga district
Loading...
Date
2020
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Sokoine University of Agriculture
Abstract
The study was carried out in Mbinga District, Tanzania to assess smallholder coffee
growers’ knowledge, attitude and practice of Coffee and Farmer Equity (C.A.F.E) Practice
certification scheme and associated implementation challenges among farmers in the
study area. The study employed a cross-sectional research design. The sample size of 188
respondents obtained by using Slovin’s sample size formula was randomly selected and
surveyed. A questionnaire, Focus Group Discussions, Key Informant Interview and
documentary review were the data collection instruments used to collect data for the
study. Descriptive statistic and content analysis were used to analyze quantitative and
qualitative data respectively. The study found that the majority of coffee growers were
knowledgeable of the scheme, had a favourable attitude towards the scheme and
implemented the standards moderately. Moreover, price volatility, the continued incidence
of coffee diseases and limited farmers’ participation in standard-setting were the main
challenges experienced by coffee growers in the implementation of the C.A.F.E Practices
scheme. The study recommends that more training and guidance should be provided to
farmers; key actors in coffee certification should enhance farmers bargaining power and
access to more profitable certified markets, farmers participation in the process of
standard-setting should be given priority, coffee service providers in collaboration with
agro-inputs dealers should ensure availability of organic coffee inputs and provision of
subsidy on personal protective gears used by farmers during agrochemicals application in
coffee farms.
Description
Keywords
Attitude, Starbucks’ coffee, Farmers equity certification scheme, Coffee growers’ knowledge, Mbinga