Côte d’Ivoire is well-known in the world as the largest producer and exporter of cocoa beans and cashew nuts, and as a top exporter of coffee and palm oil. Nevertheless, Ivorian smallholder farmers who contribute the most to the agricultural sector are largely neglected by formal financial institutions.
Indeed, only 29 percent of Ivorian smallholder farmers have an account registered to their name at a formal financial institution. This is mainly driven by mobile money: 27 percent have a mobile money account while only 5 percent have a bank account and 4 percent have an account at a microfinance institution.
CGAP, working closely with the National Statistical Office, conducted a nationally representative survey of smallholder households in 2016. The survey of 3,000 smallholder households and 5,000 household members explored the agricultural and non-agricultural activities, financial practices and interests, and challenges and aspirations of smallholder families throughout Côte d’Ivoire.
The objectives of the national survey of smallholder households in Côte d’Ivoire were to:
- Generate a clear picture of the smallholder sector at the national level, including household demographics, agricultural profile, and poverty status and market relationships.
- Segment smallholder households in Côte d’Ivoire according to the most compelling variables that emerge.
- Characterize the demand for financial services in each segment, focusing on customer needs, attitudes, and perceptions related to both agricultural and financial services.
- Detail how the financial needs of each segment are currently met, with both informal and formal services, and where there may be promising opportunities to add value.
The research methodology is detailed in this user guide to the data sets on the following key topics:
- Sample design—Sampling frame, sample allocation and selection, household listing and the listing documents, sampling weights and errors.
- Questionnaire—Background on how the instrument was designed and its three components, in both English and French.
- Fieldwork—Training, deviations in the sample design, response rates, methods of data collection, and quality checks.
- Datasets—Accessing the raw data for your own research.