Decisive forces on Robusta organic coffee development: A case study in Dak Lak, Vietnam

Abstract

Vietnam is renowned for being the largest Robusta coffee producer in the world. However, the adoption of sustainable organic coffee farming has faced various challenges, which have prevented national organic coffee production from reaching its potential. The study aimed to investigate factors influencing the robusta coffee farmers’ (i) participation in certified schemes and (ii) plans for organic conversion. The data were obtained from a structured questionnaire from a random sample of 100 coffee farms in Dak Lak, Vietnam. The logistic regression models were used to identify potential explanatory factors. The results revealed that the participation of coffee farmers in certified program was negatively associated with the number of offspring in the family, but positively associated with the age of coffee trees, the number of family members available as full-time laborers, on-farm intercrops, farmers’ interests in organic farming, cooperative membership, and farmers in the 40-49 year-old group. Farmers’ plans for organic conversion were positively associated with the age of coffee trees and organic farming interests. In contrast, on-farm intercrops, a common practice in Dak Lak, negatively influenced the intention of farmers to switch to organic farming.