Journal article
Certification is increasingly becoming necessary for accessing coffee export markets and
practicing environmental conservation, especially at this time when many of the farmers in develop-
ing 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 advan-
tages, 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.