Determinants of Income Growth Among Smallholder Cashew Farmers in Cambodia: The Mediating Role of Farm Performance
Keywords:
cashew nut, smallholder farmers, income growth, farm performanceAbstract
Purpose: The primary objective of this study is to examine the determinants of income growth among smallholder cashew farmers in Cambodia, with particular emphasis on the mediating role of farm performance. Specifically, the study aims to: (1) analyze the effects of farm characteristics, demographic attributes, external market conditions, financial access, and management practices on farm performance; (2) assess the direct impact of farm performance on income growth; and (3) test whether farm performance mediates the relationship between these five determinants and smallholder income.
Study Design: This research adopts a quantitative, cross-sectional survey design. The population consists of smallholder cashew farmers in Cambodia. A total of 250 farmers from Kampong Thom, Kratie, and Ratanakiri provinces were selected using multi-stage probability sampling. Primary data were collected through structured questionnaires. The data were analyzed using Multiple Regression Analysis (MRA) to test direct relationships and mediation analysis to examine the indirect effects of farm performance between the independent variables and income growth.
Findings: The results indicate that farm characteristics, financial access, external market conditions, demographic factors, and management practices significantly influence farm performance. Farm performance, in turn, has a positive and statistically significant effect on income growth among smallholder cashew farmers. Mediation analysis confirms that farm performance plays a critical mediating role, transmitting the effects of structural, financial, and managerial factors to household income. Among the determinants, financial access and management practices demonstrate the strongest influence on farm performance and subsequent income growth.
Value: The study strengthens the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework and offers a replicable model for analyzing smallholder systems. Practically, it highlights the need to expand financial access, enhance managerial training, and improve market infrastructure, providing guidance for policymakers and development partners seeking to advance Cambodia’s cashew sector toward greater value addition and sustainable rural development.
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