Intervention(s)
Coffee is a major cash crop and source of income for thousands of smallholder farmers in Uganda. High quality Arabica coffee is highly demanded in the international market and, thus, has high income generation potential across the value chain including for primary producers. However, the quality of Arabica coffee grown in Uganda is persistently low. A key cause identified is sub-optimal harvesting techniques among smallholder coffee producers. World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) implements a training program in collaboration with the largest coffee exporter in the area to encourage adoption of optimal harvesting. A module which focuses on selective and frequent picking and is developed by coffee experts and researchers is incorporated into ongoing extension services in the area. This project analyzes the role of information dissemination and estimates the impact of the training program in encouraging optimal harvesting of coffee to improve coffee quality, quantity sold, and revenues for smallholder farmers. There are 3 treatment variations. This study aims to identify which strategy is most effective to encourage selective harvesting of coffee.
1.Information by an extension worker. In this set of farmer groups, a training module is given using the standard extension approach. Extension workers are trained by and with the materials prepared by coffee experts and researchers. Topics to be covered include: what is coffee quality and how to achieve ideal quality; what is selective harvesting; cost and benefits of selective picking; how to pick more effectively. Pictures of coffee cherries picked at different stages are included in the training programme to show how ideally picked cherries (and others) should look like. Cost-benefit calculations are provided to help farmers make informed decisions.
A picking demonstration is held to show how to effectively pick cherries. Additional information on certified coffee markets and the importance of selling coffee to the exporter to access high-value certified coffee markets is provided.
2.Information by an extension worker + a peer farmer. In this set of randomly selected groups, coffee farmers are exposed to the same information treatment as above. In addition, a peer farmer who selectively picks and sells coffee without sorting talks about their experience during the meeting. Farmers’ questions are answered by the peer farmer during the meeting. Hearing the positive experience of peer farmers about selective harvesting is expected to encourage selective picking among farmers (through peer-to-peer social learning).
3.Information by an extension worker + a market actor. In this set of randomly selected groups, farmers are exposed to the information treatment and, additionally, a market actor (e.g. project manager of the largest exporter in the area)attends the meetings. This variation aims at improving the credibility of information provided during the training particularly on markets.
EDIT: Unfortunately, due to implementation problems, the second variation could not be implemented. So, we only have the variation information by an extension worker (T1) and T1+a market actor.