The impact of certification on the natural and financial capitals of Ghanaian cocoa farmers

TY - JOUR

T1 - The impact of certification on the natural and financial capitals of Ghanaian cocoa farmers

AU - Fenger, Nina Astrid

AU - Bosselmann, Aske Skovmand

AU - Richard, Asare

AU - de Neergaard, Andreas

PY - 2017/2/7

Y1 - 2017/2/7

N2 - While an increasing number of large food companies commit themselves to source only certified cocoa, research on the impacts of certification on cocoa farmers is falling behind. We investigate how Rainforest Alliance (RA) certification of small-scale cocoa farmers in Ghana has affected both the financial and the natural capitals of the farmers. Across two villages, certified farmers were compared to conventional farmers, using both qualitative and quantitative data collected through farmer and key informant interviews and participatory rural appraisals. A combination of the Sustainable Livelihood Framework and the Input-Output-Outcome-Impact Framework was used for the analysis. Results indicate that the RA certification scheme has a positive influence on the certified farmers in terms of cocoa production, yield, income and farmers’ perception of changes in their natural and financial capitals. The positive influence is a result of inputs from the RA certification, including financial support, information and knowledge, technical assistance, and increased access to farm inputs and credit. However, these positive impacts are conditioned by the presence of active farmer organizations and access to agricultural inputs and credit through associations and government institutions, and may be undermined by certified farmers who sell their produce outside the premium value chain.

AB - While an increasing number of large food companies commit themselves to source only certified cocoa, research on the impacts of certification on cocoa farmers is falling behind. We investigate how Rainforest Alliance (RA) certification of small-scale cocoa farmers in Ghana has affected both the financial and the natural capitals of the farmers. Across two villages, certified farmers were compared to conventional farmers, using both qualitative and quantitative data collected through farmer and key informant interviews and participatory rural appraisals. A combination of the Sustainable Livelihood Framework and the Input-Output-Outcome-Impact Framework was used for the analysis. Results indicate that the RA certification scheme has a positive influence on the certified farmers in terms of cocoa production, yield, income and farmers’ perception of changes in their natural and financial capitals. The positive influence is a result of inputs from the RA certification, including financial support, information and knowledge, technical assistance, and increased access to farm inputs and credit. However, these positive impacts are conditioned by the presence of active farmer organizations and access to agricultural inputs and credit through associations and government institutions, and may be undermined by certified farmers who sell their produce outside the premium value chain.

KW - Tropical crops

KW - Cacao

KW - ???Tropiske og subtropiske afgrøder???

KW - Cacao

KW - Certification

KW - Livelihood

KW - Ghana

U2 - 10.1080/21683565.2016.1258606

DO - 10.1080/21683565.2016.1258606

M3 - Journal article

SN - 2168-3565

VL - 41

SP - 143

EP - 166

JO - Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems

JF - Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems

IS - 2

ER -