Explanatory factors of quality certification in the coffee micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises in Honduras

Agri-food value chains have experienced profound changes in recent years. One of the most relevant is its growing segmentation and the strategic importance of having quality seals or certificates to access differentiated consumer niches and thus obtain premium prices. This research deals with the factors that explain the obtaining of these certificates in the case of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in various stages of the coffee value chain in Honduras. This analysis has been based on estimating an econometric logistic regression model in which the dependent variable is whether the company has a certification or not. The findings of this study show that individual traders and cooperatives are more likely to get a quality certificate or seal. Furthermore, it is observed that the availability of a certificate allows improving access to national and international markets, in addition to increasing bargaining power in the marketing of coffee. The study also shows that MSMEs that receive incentives to protect the environment support in the form of specialized technical assistance from national and international institutions are more likely to access quality certifications.