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Field
Trial Title
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Before
Identifying cost-effective means to improve coffee quality and quantity sold by smallholder coffee farmers in Eastern Uganda
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After
Adoption of quality- and market-improving practices and revenues earned by smallholder coffee farmers in Eastern Uganda
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Abstract
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Before
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. First treatment variation is provision of standard training on coffee quality and harvest. The second experimental variation focuses on peer social learning. In addition to the standard harvest-related module, a peer farmer who selectively and frequently picks coffee is invited to training session to share his/her positive experience about the practice, answer questions, and encourage others for adoption. Lastly, in the third variation the project manager of the largest coffee exporter in the region attends standard training sessions and talks about the importance of coffee quality in accessing high-value coffee markets. This variation aims at improving the credibility of information provided during the training and restoring the producers’ confidence in the exporter. It is also expected to create loyalty to the company thereby making farmers more motivated to meet buyer’s expectations to produce high quality coffee.
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After
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 poor harvesting and marketing among smallholder coffee producers. World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) implements a program in collaboration with the largest coffee exporter in the area to encourage adoption of quality- and market-improving practices. An extension meeting which focuses on improved quality and the importance of marketing coffee is held. This project analyzes the role of information dissemination and estimates the effect of the information in encouraging improving quality and market to increase revenues for smallholder farmers. There are 3 treatment variations. First treatment variation is provision of information on coffee quality and harvest in addition to improving market through selling coffee to the largest exporter area to access certified coffee markets. Information is provided by an extension worker. The second experimental variation focuses on peer social learning. In addition to the extension worker, a peer farmer who uses improved harvest practices is invited to training session to share his/her positive experience about the practice, answer questions, and encourage others for adoption. Lastly, in the third variation, a market actor (the project manager of the largest coffee exporter in the region) attends extension meetings briefly and talks about the importance of coffee quality and selling to the exporter to accessing certified coffee markets.
EDIT: the second treatment variation could not be implemented.
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Last Published
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Before
May 07, 2019 10:23 AM
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After
October 19, 2019 08:58 AM
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Intervention (Public)
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Before
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 treatment. 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.
2.Information treatment + peer farmer meetings. 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 treatment + buyer visits and calls. In this set of randomly selected groups, farmers are exposed to the information treatment and, additionally, a senior staff (e.g. project manager) from the buyer attends the meetings. This variation aims at improving the credibility of information provided during the training and restoring the producers’ confidence in the exporter. In addition, an automatic voice message (phone call) from the buyer is sent to farmers during the harvest season starts that the exporter hopes to receive hand-picked high-quality cherries from them. The goal is to make each individual farmer feel that his/her behaviour matters to the buyer and create loyalty thereby making farmers more motivated to meet buyer’s expectations to produce high quality coffee.
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After
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.
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Primary Outcomes (End Points)
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Before
adoption of selective picking, coffee quality (subjective), quantity of coffee harvested and sold, coffee revenues
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After
knowledge on coffee quality (quality knowledge score), adoption of quality- and market-improving practices (harvest quality score and share of coffee sold to the exporter) and coffee revenues (per kg)
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Experimental Design (Public)
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Before
The study takes advantage of a World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) program implemented in collaboration with the largest coffee exporter in Eastern Uganda. The program aims to train about 4000 coffee farmers on an optimal harvesting method to increase coffee quality and quantity harvested. Our sample consists of 88 farmer groups and 1600 coffee farming households which are randomly selected. These 1600 farmers are randomly assigned to the three treatment variations and the control group (see abstract). The study uses an encouragement design.
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After
The study takes advantage of a World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) program implemented in collaboration with the largest coffee exporter in Eastern Uganda. The program aims to provide information to about 4000 coffee farmers on quality- and market-improving practices to facilitate smallholders access to high-value markets. Our sample consists of 88 farmer groups and 1500 coffee farming households which are randomly selected. These 1500 farmers are randomly assigned to the three treatment variations and the control group (see abstract). The study uses an encouragement design.
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Planned Number of Observations
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Before
1600 households
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After
1500 households
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Sample size (or number of clusters) by treatment arms
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Before
20, 19, and 19 farmer groups in treatment variation 1, 2, and 3, respectively, and 30 in the control group.
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After
Initial randomization: 20, 19, and 19 farmer groups in treatment variation 1, 2, and 3, respectively, and 30 in the control group.
EDIT: the second treatment variation could not be implemented. So, currently we have 39 in the first treatment group and 19 in the second treatment group and 30 in the control group.
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Secondary Outcomes (End Points)
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Before
trust in and loyalty to buyer, agriculture network density
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After
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