The role of traceability system in enhancing the triple bottom line sustainability performance of smallholder specialty coffee producers in southwestern Oromia, Ethiopia

This study has investigated the sustainability performance of the smallholder specialty coffee business from the perspectives of traceability system in southwestern Oromia, Ethiopia. Descriptive-exploratory, mixed approach, cross sectional survey research design was used. Purposive and systematic random sampling techniques were used to reach the sample respondents. The study has employed a total sample of 390 respondents. Data was collected from primary and secondary sources. Scheduled questionnaire, key informant interview and personal observation were used to collect the primary data. For data analysis, descriptive, multivariate regression and thematic analysis methods were used. The study reveal that, while the sample smallholder specialty coffee producers were not keeping record of the inputs used for coffee production, cooperatives manually keep record of members’ coffee production practices and their coffee processing and storage conditions. Also, the result show that, coffee traceability system enhances the sustainability performance of the smallholder specialty coffee producers business. Besides, the study show that, coffee traceability system implementation was hindered by legal, organizational, technological, and awareness restraints. Finally, having appropriate legal framework, friendly cooperation among all the stakeholders, allocating the required budget to acquire the technologies required, availing information communication technology infrastructure, and improving awareness would help to successfully implement coffee traceability system.