FINANCIAL FACTORS AFFECTING PRODUCTION EFFICIENCY OF SMALL SCALE COFFEE FARMS IN BURUNDI

Purpose: The study sought to evaluate financial factors affecting the production efficiency of small-scale coffee farms in Burundi. Methodology: The research design used during the study was descriptive. The research targeted a population of 300 small-scale coffee farmers. The study had a sample population of 121 smallholder coffee farmers. The study conducted the research for a 6-year period between 2015-2020. The data was collected using a secondary data collection sheet. Secondary data was obtained from Coffee federations' annual reports, cooperatives reports, and coffee farmers’ records. Analysis of the data was done using the Eviews student 11 version. The analyzed data was presented in form of tabulations, mean and standard deviation. Findings: The study findings showed that the correlation analysis showed that the selling prices per kilogram of coffee beans had a negative and significant correlation to the production efficiency by R = 0.98. Production efficiency had a negative and significant correlation to capital availability by R = 0.260. Lastly, production efficiency had a positive and significant correlation to production costs at R = 0.500. The findings of the research obtained that selling prices per kilogram of coffee beans had a not significant negative effect on production efficiency, while capital availability and production costs had a positive effect on the production efficiency. A unique contribution to theory, practice, and policy: The study recommended that government should review the policies relating to the selling prices per kilogram of coffee beans to improve small-scale coffee farmers’ incomes. Government should also facilitate access to credit to small-scale coffee farmers. The study incorporated the Cobweb theory of price fluctuation, the theory of credit rationing also called adverse selection theory, and the high payoff inputs model.