Effect of Certified Organic Production Systems on Poverty among Smallholder Farmers: Empirical Evidence from Kenya

Abstract

This study evaluates the effect of certified organic production on poverty in smallholder production systems. Data was collected from cross sectional survey of local market oriented peri-urban vegetable and rural honey producers in Kenya. Poverty was measured using the multidimensional poverty methodology and endogenous switching probit model used to assess the effect of certified organic production on multidimensional poverty. Findings were that certified producers were less likely to be multidimensional poor compared to their counterfactual case of not participating in organic certification schemes. Additionally, noncertified producers would be less likely to be poor if they were to participate in organic certification production.