Certification as a strategic mechanism for enhanced access to high-value markets for smallholder avocado farmers in Tanzania
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51867/ajernet.7.3.82Keywords:
Certification,, Smallholder avocado farmers, high-value market accessAbstract
Recent years have witnessed significant growth in high-value avocado markets (HVMs), both domestically and globally. This expansion led to the emergence of large retailers implementing stringent private standards on quality, safety, and environmental sustainability, which have become prerequisites for market access and created numerous opportunities for smallholder farmers. However, smallholder avocado producers often struggle to access HVMs because they fail to meet standard certification requirements. Consequently, this study explored the impact of the certification process on market availability and competitiveness as critical measures of access to HVMs for smallholder avocado farmers in Tanzania. Guided by the Global Value Chain (GVC) framework, the study employed a quantitative design, collecting data through a cross-sectional survey involving a sample of 305 smallholder farmers. The targeted population of the study is producers who were members of cooperatives or producer groups. The analysis utilised Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). The findings indicate that the certification process has a positive and significant correlation with both market availability (β = 0.265, p-value < 0.001) and competitiveness (β = 0.463, p-value < 0.001). Furthermore, certification requirements exert a stronger influence on enhancing access to HVMs for smallholder avocado farmers by facilitating keeping up with customers’ demands, market entry, and connecting farmers to market opportunities and new buyers. Certification requirements also depend on the adequacy of logistics infrastructure and facilities to facilitate access to HVMs. Therefore, the study recommends that policy interventions aimed at improving market access should focus on regular training, technical support, and reducing transaction costs to enable smallholder farmers to achieve standard certification. Simultaneously, it is essential to enhance logistics infrastructure and facilities to help these farmers gain access to HVMs for their avocados.
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