Socioeconomic determinants of farmers to improve the sustainability of cocoa production in Indonesia: a PLS-SEM model approach

Purpose The low adoption rates of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) along the cocoa supply chain have contributed to declining productivity and quality in Indonesian cocoa production. This study examines the socioeconomic and institutional factors that influence GAP adoption among cocoa farmers. Design/methodology/approach A quantitative research design was employed using a survey questionnaire. Primary data were collected from 243 cocoa farmers using a multistage nonprobability sampling approach. The data were analyzed using partial least squares–structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). Findings Results indicate that cocoa income and cultivation costs do not significantly influence GAP adoption. By contrast, financial access, farmer organization benefits, and perceived certification benefits significantly affect GAP adoption decisions. Research limitations/implications This study focuses on a specific regional context and employs nonprobability sampling, which may limit generalizability. Nevertheless, the findings offer practical implications for policymakers and supply chain stakeholders seeking to strengthen GAP implementation and support sustainable cocoa production. Originality/value This study contributes to the literature by developing and empirically testing a socioeconomic and institutional model that explains GAP adoption among cocoa farmers. The proposed framework provides a structured approach that can be adapted to other agricultural commodities to examine the determinants of GAP adoption within sustainable production systems.