Determinants Of Small Scale Farms Coffee Productivity: The Case Of So koru Woreda, Jimma Zone, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia

Abstract

Ethiopia has produced millions of tons of coffee since it was discovered, but despite being the foundation of the nation's economy, it has not yet reached its full production potential. Thus, using primary data collected from 154 randomly selected coffee growers, this study addresses variables influencing coffee productivity in the Jimma zone. Coffee productivity and factors influencing productivity were evaluated using a Cobb-Douglass production function. A multiple regression model was also employed to determine the socioeconomic factors that influence the productivity levels of small-scale farmers. The Cobb-Douglass production function model, which specifies coffee productivity as a function of many variables, demonstrates that the density of coffee trees per hectare, the extent of the canopy of shade trees, the number of livestock, and the use of organic fertilizers all tend to boost coffee productivity. In reverse, the size of the coffee farm, the age of the coffee, and the remoteness of the coffee farm all tend to lower the coffee yield. Education, farm size, nonfarm activities, livestock ownership, credit availability, and prior experience growing coffee were socioeconomic characteristics that had a substantial impact on the yield of farmers. Based on the finding of the study interventions aimed at improving farmers' productivity are necessary in order to increase their yields and it is advisable to invest in improving the smallholder farmers' access to credit, the agricultural extension system, and the livestock production system.