Investment in compliance with GlobalGAP standards

Does it pay off for small-scale producers in Kenya?

authored by

Solomon Asfaw, Dagmar Mithöfer, Hermann Waibel

Abstract

Limited empirical evidence exists either to refute or confirm the concern that the proliferation and enhanced stringency of private food-safety standards marginalize smallholders from global markets and thus drive them deeper into poverty. In this paper, factors are identified that can explain the decision of small-scale producers to adopt private standards. It is also analysed whether investments in standards compliance pays off for small-scale producers. Using household-level survey data from Kenya, it can be shown that adopters and non-adopters are distinguishable by their wealth status, access to services and level of education. Econometric analysis shows that adoption of standards significantly improves smallholder farm financial performance. The financial rate of return on investments in standards compliance at farm level is high even under conservative assumptions. The major message of the paper is that smallholder farmers who have the ability to invest in required structures benefit substantially from adopting private standards.

Organisation(s)

Institute of Development and Agricultural Economics

External Organisation(s)

International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology Nairobi

Type

Article

Journal

Quarterly Journal of International Agriculture

Volume

48

Pages

337-362

No. of pages

26

ISSN

0049-8599

Publication date

2009

Publication status

Published

Peer reviewed

Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Geography, Planning and Development, Development

Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 2 - Zero Hunger