Contribution of Arabica Coffee Production Systems into Ecosystem Services in Southwestern Ethiopia

Abstract

Arabica coffee, in addition to ascertain international market, it provides significant ecosystem services (ES) through its production systems (CPS). These systems serve as repositories of precious societal livelihood and its genetic resources which remain a backbone of Ethiopian people. However, there is a gap in understanding the role of CPS and their multistory structures in delivering ES, which that endorse to develop sustainable production systems. The objective of this study was to assess farmers' perceptions in role of CPS in ES into sustain producers' livelihoods across five districts (Manna, Gera, Masha, YirgaChafe, and Bolososare) in southwestern Ethiopia. Data were collected through surveys used KoboToolbox platform with a semi-structured questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS and Stata software. The study participants consisted of 60% men and 40% women, all of whom were coffee producers. Among the five types of CPS, the semi-forest system was the most prevalent (54%), followed by the garden system (36%). In contrast, only 1% of respondent farmers (~5 individuals) practiced forest coffee production, which is a concerning finding, while none of the participants engaged in plantation-based coffee farming. Nearly all respondents acknowledged that CPS plays a crucial role in maintaining environmental balance (>97%), economic sustainability (>96%), and land productivity (95.95%). Additionally, 77.7% of respondents reported achieving food security, particularly through garden coffee production. Forest-based CPS was reported to be more effective in climate change buffering and biodiversity preservation. Overall, CPS plays an critical role in the area sustaining producers' livelihoods, with its diverse contributions intertwined with daily life. These contributions are complex and difficult to isolate into individual functions. Farmers emphasized that CPS contributes to all ES, underscoring the need for in-depth research into its various roles to develop more sophisticated and sustainable production systems that align with global sustainability goals.