Organic Cocoa in Sao Tome and Principe- How Producers Perceive Sustainability and Elect Livelihood Strategies

Abstract

São Tomé and Príncipe (STP) is one of the world's smallest organic cocoa exporting countries, whose product has a positive socio-cultural and economic impact. Small producers who insure it, are associated into two cooperatives that experience several difficulties and dilemmas including climate changes and poverty. Diversification livelihood strategies could lead to wellbeing, poverty and climate mitigation. The aim of this study was to analyse producers’ perception of sustainability related to the organic cocoa production in STP and to explain the influence of different factors on their livelihood strategies (LS). An ordered probit model for disaggregation of factor categories of was used for the 2021 period. The results showed that gender, age, family size, members on-farm and off-farm work and professional training courses, do not influence livelihood strategies. The important variables to elected them are education level, perception of social class, insurances and loans and access to services.

Keywords

• Organic cocoa, ordered probit model, perceptions, sustainability, strategies