Sustainable coffee farming and improving smallholder livelihoods in Ethiopia
This policy brief explores the Voluntary Sustainability Standard (VSS), an initiative to establish criteria for sustainability measures, and its impacts on smallholder coffee farmers in Ethiopia's Sidama region.
-
Berihun Policy brief March 2024.pdf
PDF document • 189.09 KB
- This policy brief highlights the Voluntary Sustainability Standard (VSS) as an initiative to establish criteria for sustainability measures that smallholder coffee farmers can adhere to.
- Disagreements and disputes over VSS have arisen due to perceived challenges and costs associated with its implementation. While proponents argue that VSS delivers economic, social, and environmental benefits, critics view it as a trade barrier that imposes additional costs and hampers developing countries' participation in the global market.
- The study finds that certified coffee farmers in Ethiopia’s Sidama region experience noticeable benefits compared to non-certified farmers. Cooperative organisations also play a key role in facilitating market access and providing technical assistance, training, and resources to farmers.
- Policy recommendations include strengthening certification cooperation and addressing affordability concerns, adapting certification requirements to local contexts, and undertaking further research to promote sustainable coffee farming and improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers across Ethiopia.