IMPACT OF ORGANIC COFFEE CERTIFICATION ON HOUSEHOLD LIVELIHOOD AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION IN THE GEDEO ZONE, SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA

ABSTRACT: Coffee production is complicated, and success depends on a lot more than just growing beans. Access to resources, social structures, and even things like organic certification play a huge role in both productivity and the environmental impact. This study investigated the impact of organic coffee certification on household livelihoods and environmental conservation in the Gedeo Zone, Southern Ethiopia. Employing a mixedmethods approach, data were collected randomly from 291 coffee-producing households (100 certified, 191 non-certified) across Yirgacheffe and Wonago districts, using questionnaires, focus group discussions, key informant interviews, and secondary data from official records. Data were analyzed using descriptive and econometric methods. An endogenous switching regression model investigated the factors influencing organic coffee certification decisions and the impact of certification on farmers' livelihoods and the environment. The survey results show that certified coffee farmers experienced significantly higher incomes (ETB 3862.13 more on average, p<0.01), caloric intake (863.70 more calories per adult equivalent, p<0.01), and coffee productivity (ETB 14.48 more, p<0.05), along with improved environmental conservation scores (1.005 points higher, p<0.05), compared to non-certified farmers. While certification shows a strong positive correlation with these improved outcomes, the benefits weren't evenly distributed. Disparities are linked to factors like gender, education, marital status, family size, credit access, and proximity to markets. Thus, policy interventions should address the identified disparities, focusing on empowering women farmers, improving access to finance and education, and enhancing market infrastructure, particularly in remote areas.