Toward sustainable cocoa production: technical efficiency as a transition path toward competitiveness in Colombia

Abstract

The agricultural sector is an essential pillar for economic development and global food security. However, it faces challenges that compromise its viability, such as climate change, migration, and productivity variability. Colombia is among the main producing countries of fine and aromatic cocoa, and the department of Santander is the main producer of cocoa in the country; however, its production and commercialisation are affected by multiple factors, such as low access to competitive markets, a lack of infrastructure, and a low level of incorporation of technologies. In this study, the efficiency of cocoa on 500 farms located in five municipalities, Santander and Norte de Santander, Colombia, was analysed using a two-stage method with bootstrapped DEA and truncated regression. The results revealed 68.4% average technical efficiency and 21.5% scale efficiency. Efficiency is affected by technological limitations, training, and market factors. In addition, it was shown that gender gaps persist, with female producers showing significantly lower scale efficiency, suggesting structural barriers in access to productive resources, financing, and technical assistance, as well as a worrying lack of generational change.

The authors' abstract, as published at the source. International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability, 2026 · DOI ↗