Determinants of Coffee Value Addition by Smallholder Farmers in Jimma Zone, Ethiopia

Value addition after production would involve enhancements or additions to a product that result in higher returns to the commodity seller, who is often the smallholder farmer. This study was undertaken with the aim of analysing determinants of intensity of value addition to coffee by smallholders. A multi-stage stratified and simple random sampling technique was employed; and a total of 152 smallholder farmers from six kebeles were sampled. Data were collected from primary sources through a semistructured interview schedule. Tobit econometric model was employed to identify the underlying determinants of coffee value addition. The result revealed that sex, literacy status, coffee farming experience, active family labour force, perception of farmers towards the adequacy of extension service on value addition, access to credit, ownership of sufficient drying facilities, per ception of farmers towards price of dry cherry, and non- and off-farm income were significantly affected coffee value addition. The finding stress that policy aiming at offering farmers a fair price, providing adequate credit and other extension services, providing drying facilities, building capacity of farmers with knowledge, improving farmer's business diversification besides coffee farming, and targeting gender inclusive strategy (paying attention to women) were recommended to increase coffee value addition at farm level.