The impact of certification on the natural and financial capitals of Ghanaian cocoa farmers
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 smallscale cocoa farmers in Ghana has affected both the finan...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Journal Article |
| Language: | Inglés |
| Published: |
Informa UK Limited
2017
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/79756 |
| _version_ | 1855523556779098112 |
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| author | Fenger, N.A. Bosselmann, A.S. Asare, R. Neergaard, Andreas de |
| author_browse | Asare, R. Bosselmann, A.S. Fenger, N.A. Neergaard, Andreas de |
| author_facet | Fenger, N.A. Bosselmann, A.S. Asare, R. Neergaard, Andreas de |
| author_sort | Fenger, N.A. |
| collection | Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace) |
| description | 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 smallscale 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. |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | CGSpace79756 |
| institution | CGIAR Consortium |
| language | Inglés |
| publishDate | 2017 |
| publishDateRange | 2017 |
| publishDateSort | 2017 |
| publisher | Informa UK Limited |
| publisherStr | Informa UK Limited |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | CGSpace797562024-05-01T08:17:00Z The impact of certification on the natural and financial capitals of Ghanaian cocoa farmers Fenger, N.A. Bosselmann, A.S. Asare, R. Neergaard, Andreas de cocoa (plant) livelihood capitals certified cocoa production certified farmers conventional farmers 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 smallscale 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. 2017-02-07 2017-02-06T12:10:49Z 2017-02-06T12:10:49Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/79756 en Limited Access Informa UK Limited Fenger, N., Bosselmann, A.S., Asare, R. & de Neergaard, A. (2017). The impact of certification on the natural and financial capitals of Ghanaian cocoa farmers. Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems, 41(2), 143–166. |
| spellingShingle | cocoa (plant) livelihood capitals certified cocoa production certified farmers conventional farmers Fenger, N.A. Bosselmann, A.S. Asare, R. Neergaard, Andreas de The impact of certification on the natural and financial capitals of Ghanaian cocoa farmers |
| title | The impact of certification on the natural and financial capitals of Ghanaian cocoa farmers |
| title_full | The impact of certification on the natural and financial capitals of Ghanaian cocoa farmers |
| title_fullStr | The impact of certification on the natural and financial capitals of Ghanaian cocoa farmers |
| title_full_unstemmed | The impact of certification on the natural and financial capitals of Ghanaian cocoa farmers |
| title_short | The impact of certification on the natural and financial capitals of Ghanaian cocoa farmers |
| title_sort | impact of certification on the natural and financial capitals of ghanaian cocoa farmers |
| topic | cocoa (plant) livelihood capitals certified cocoa production certified farmers conventional farmers |
| url | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/79756 |
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