Assessing factors that affect profitability of Arabica coffee among small scale farmers in Bulambuli district :

Abstract

Arabica coffee is an important cash crop in the Bulambuli district, particularly in Simu Sub County; however, its profitability is still low. There has been limited research on the factors influencing the profitability of Arabica coffee in this region. Using a random sampling technique, this study gathered data from 133 Arabica coffee farmers through questionnaires that included both open-ended and closed-ended questions. The data analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS version 16.0). Descriptive statistics were employed to assess the farmers' characteristics, such as examining their age in terms of years and analyzing gender by comparing the participation rates of male and female farmers in Arabica coffee cultivation. To analyze objective two, multiple regression models were employed has it illustrates one dependent variable influenced by multiple independent variables. For instance, variables like access to coffee inputs(x1), price fluctuation(x2), farmer’s income(x3) were included with the equation as below: Y=X1, X2, X3…. where Y (profitability of Arabica coffee) depends on several independent variables, including x1, x2, x3 and x4. The third objective employed both descriptive and inferential statistics. Farmers in Simu sub-county face numerous challenges including coffee price fluctuations, poor quality inputs, poor transport and influence of middlemen. However, farmers use proper postharvest handling practices, use of high quality inputs, formation of farmer groups and conducting trainings as remedies to the challenges they face.