The efficiency with which Robusta coffee farms convert inputs into outputs declines at higher elevations

28 Nov 2025

This article explains the factors that affect the productivity and efficiency of the Robusta coffee farms in Sultan Kudarat, Philippines. It aims to assist Robusta coffee farmers in identifying significant production inputs that will increase their farms’ productivity and the important factors that might increase or decrease their technical efficiency. Productivity refers to the output produced by the coffee farms, while efficiency refers to how well these farms convert their inputs into outputs.

The factors that affect productivity are inputs such as land, fertilizer, and the number of trees. Meanwhile, the factors considered to affect technical efficiency include elevation, as well as sociodemographic and climatological factors. Regarding inputs, fertilizer and the number of trees significantly increase the productivity of these farms. In contrast, increasing the land is associated with decreasing productivity.

In terms of technical efficiency, only coffee farming income and elevation were significant factors. Elevation can largely affect the productivity and efficiency of agricultural production. At high elevations, the technical efficiency of Robusta coffee farms decreases. Furthermore, comparing the average technical efficiency across low, medium, and high elevations, coffee farms at medium elevations had the highest average technical efficiency. This poses significant implications for sustainability, particularly the promotion of medium-elevation coffee farming instead of highland coffee farming. High-elevation coffee farming is associated with increased input application, increased erosion risks, and unsustainable land use, as opposed to medium-elevation farming.

Medium-elevation farming may then promote sustainable development while ensuring efficiency and environmental sustainability. The research proposes technical efficiency improvement recommendations, including promoting coffee agroforestry systems and ecolabelling at medium elevations, such as shade-grown coffee, to promote sustainable production in Robusta coffee farms by assigning a premium to consumers demanding environmental conservation.

Authors: Mark James S. Saguimpa (Agri-Aqua Value Chain Laboratory, University of the Philippines Mindanao) and Larry N. Digal (Agri-Aqua Value Chain Laboratory, University of the Philippines Mindanao | School of Management, University of the Philippines Mindanao)

Read the full paper: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-024-8746-1

Image by Παῦλος from Pixabay

The efficiency with which Robusta coffee farms convert inputs into outputs declines at higher elevations

This article explains the factors that affect the productivity and efficiency of the Robusta coffee farms in Sultan Kudarat, Philippines. It aims to assist Robusta coffee farmers in identifying significant production inputs that will increase their farms’ productivity and the important factors that might increase or decrease their technical efficiency. Productivity refers to the output produced by the coffee farms, while efficiency refers to how well these farms convert their inputs into outputs.

The factors that affect productivity are inputs such as land, fertilizer, and the number of trees. Meanwhile, the factors considered to affect technical efficiency include elevation, as well as sociodemographic and climatological factors. Regarding inputs, fertilizer and the number of trees significantly increase the productivity of these farms. In contrast, increasing the land is associated with decreasing productivity.

In terms of technical efficiency, only coffee farming income and elevation were significant factors. Elevation can largely affect the productivity and efficiency of agricultural production. At high elevations, the technical efficiency of Robusta coffee farms decreases. Furthermore, comparing the average technical efficiency across low, medium, and high elevations, coffee farms at medium elevations had the highest average technical efficiency. This poses significant implications for sustainability, particularly the promotion of medium-elevation coffee farming instead of highland coffee farming. High-elevation coffee farming is associated with increased input application, increased erosion risks, and unsustainable land use, as opposed to medium-elevation farming.

Medium-elevation farming may then promote sustainable development while ensuring efficiency and environmental sustainability. The research proposes technical efficiency improvement recommendations, including promoting coffee agroforestry systems and ecolabelling at medium elevations, such as shade-grown coffee, to promote sustainable production in Robusta coffee farms by assigning a premium to consumers demanding environmental conservation.

Authors: Mark James S. Saguimpa (Agri-Aqua Value Chain Laboratory, University of the Philippines Mindanao) and Larry N. Digal (Agri-Aqua Value Chain Laboratory, University of the Philippines Mindanao | School of Management, University of the Philippines Mindanao)

Read the full paper: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-024-8746-1

Image by Παῦλος from Pixabay