Fairtrade certification gives most significant effects at plot/
farm and value chain level (see Table 3). While acreage and
number of coffee trees remains unchanged for FT farmers,
non-certified farms increased both the acreage under coffee
and tree density. Moreover, non-certified farms increased the
use of hired labor for coffee production compared to FT farms, thus freeing family labor for engagement in other
income-generating activities. Both groups raised their investments over time, but non-certified farmers at a far higher rate.
FT farmers invested nearly twice as much in tree renovation in
2009 compared to non-certified farmers, while in 2013 noncertified farms took the lead in new coffee investment.
Nevertheless, both groups experienced substantial absolute
declines in their coffee yields; non-certified farmers registered better yields at baseline, whereas FT farmers reach better
yields at endline. In addition, while prices improved for both
groups over time, FT farmers register significantly higher coffee prices. In summary, this points to significant positive production effects of FT certification through intensification of
coffee cultivation and further coffee processing (e.g., increased
share of dry coffee sales).