Changing asset endowments and smallholder participation in higher value markets: Evidence from certified coffee producers in Nicaragua

This paper examines the capacities of smallholders in Nicaragua to exploit new linkages to certified coffee markets following the coffee crisis. Data on livelihood assets were collected from 292 households, which were clustered to test how differences in outcomes (asset building) reflect variations...

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Main Authors: Donovan, J., Poole, N.
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: Elsevier 2014
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/170900
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author Donovan, J.
Poole, N.
author_browse Donovan, J.
Poole, N.
author_facet Donovan, J.
Poole, N.
author_sort Donovan, J.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description This paper examines the capacities of smallholders in Nicaragua to exploit new linkages to certified coffee markets following the coffee crisis. Data on livelihood assets were collected from 292 households, which were clustered to test how differences in outcomes (asset building) reflect variations in initial asset endowments. The results suggest that most households built particular elements of their asset base and increased their resilience to future shocks. However, households struggled to make effective use of the gains for intensifying their livelihoods. Of the least-endowed households, few made investments in the scale or productivity of coffee, and most continued to depend heavily on subsistence production and seasonal off-farm income for survival. In conclusion, improved market access alone, even under relatively favorable market conditions and with considerable external support, will have uncertain impacts on rural poverty if the underlying constraints on household assets and investments are not addressed concurrently.
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spelling CGSpace1709002025-09-25T13:01:42Z Changing asset endowments and smallholder participation in higher value markets: Evidence from certified coffee producers in Nicaragua Donovan, J. Poole, N. market access smallholders coffee certification livelihoods This paper examines the capacities of smallholders in Nicaragua to exploit new linkages to certified coffee markets following the coffee crisis. Data on livelihood assets were collected from 292 households, which were clustered to test how differences in outcomes (asset building) reflect variations in initial asset endowments. The results suggest that most households built particular elements of their asset base and increased their resilience to future shocks. However, households struggled to make effective use of the gains for intensifying their livelihoods. Of the least-endowed households, few made investments in the scale or productivity of coffee, and most continued to depend heavily on subsistence production and seasonal off-farm income for survival. In conclusion, improved market access alone, even under relatively favorable market conditions and with considerable external support, will have uncertain impacts on rural poverty if the underlying constraints on household assets and investments are not addressed concurrently. 2014-02 2025-01-29T12:57:27Z 2025-01-29T12:57:27Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/170900 en Open Access Elsevier Donovan, J.; and Poole, N. 2014. Changing Asset Endowments and Smallholder Participation in Higher Value Markets: Evidence from Certified Coffee Producers in Nicaragua. Food Policy 44 (2014): 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodpol.2013.09.010
spellingShingle market access
smallholders
coffee
certification
livelihoods
Donovan, J.
Poole, N.
Changing asset endowments and smallholder participation in higher value markets: Evidence from certified coffee producers in Nicaragua
title Changing asset endowments and smallholder participation in higher value markets: Evidence from certified coffee producers in Nicaragua
title_full Changing asset endowments and smallholder participation in higher value markets: Evidence from certified coffee producers in Nicaragua
title_fullStr Changing asset endowments and smallholder participation in higher value markets: Evidence from certified coffee producers in Nicaragua
title_full_unstemmed Changing asset endowments and smallholder participation in higher value markets: Evidence from certified coffee producers in Nicaragua
title_short Changing asset endowments and smallholder participation in higher value markets: Evidence from certified coffee producers in Nicaragua
title_sort changing asset endowments and smallholder participation in higher value markets evidence from certified coffee producers in nicaragua
topic market access
smallholders
coffee
certification
livelihoods
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/170900
work_keys_str_mv AT donovanj changingassetendowmentsandsmallholderparticipationinhighervaluemarketsevidencefromcertifiedcoffeeproducersinnicaragua
AT poolen changingassetendowmentsandsmallholderparticipationinhighervaluemarketsevidencefromcertifiedcoffeeproducersinnicaragua