An Effective Policy Strategy for Utilization of Fragmented Lands in Rwanda: Land Use Consolidation from Farmers Perspectives (Published)
Land consolidation model have been adopted by the government as a major agricultural transformation strategy in Rwanda, despite the consolidation of farming, a large number of farmers continue to maintain smallholdings and therefore some of the old problems still persist and some new challenges have emerged. This study evaluated effects of land consolidation use among maize farmers in Kayonza district eastern part of Rwanda. Multistage sampling techniques were used to select survey villages and respondents. Data were collected from 213 respondents using structured questionnaire. T-test was used to estimate effect of land use consolidation on yield and level of input usage. The mean difference in yield between adopters and non adopters across all growing seasons that is 2016A, 2015A, 2015B and 2014B group were 133.4, 225.1,151.1 and 124.8 kg ha-1.The analysis showed a statistical significant difference between those two groups with P <0.05 at 95% of confidence level. The mean difference in level of input usage between adopters and non adopters across all growing seasons that is 2016A, 2015A, 2015B and 2014B group were 1607.5, 559.4, 1229.6 and 1828.7 in Rwandan francs. The analysis showed a statistical significant difference between those two groups with P <0.05 at 95% of confidence level. The study concludes that land consolidation is the efficient policy strategy that can improve the welfare of farming communities through effective utilization marginal lands.
Keywords: Kayonza, Land Use Consolidation, Rwanda, Smallholder dairy farmers
Effect of Crop Intensification Program on Maize Production in Nyagatare, Rwanda (Published)
This study was conducted in Nyagatare district located in the Eastern Province of Rwanda. Its objective was to assess the effect of the Crop Intensification program (CIP) on maize production in Nyagatare district. Improved seeds, Inorganic fertilizers, Extension services and Land Use Consolidation were the major variables for consideration in this study and assessment was made as to the contribution they made to maize production in CIP in the study area . The study focused on 24 cooperatives with 97 respondents. It used qualitative approaches to generate the opinion of respondents where data was not readily available and also quantitative methods where both primary and secondary data were used. Primary data was collected using questionnaires from random sample of 97 farmers, and it considered the socio-economic characteristics of farmers while Secondary data was collected from different sources, like Ministry of Agriculture, District offices, Agriculture Sector working Group (ASWG) reports , books, reports and internet.. The research used correlation and regression techniques Research findings revealed that youth and educated people’s engagement in agricultural activities is minimal, that Extension services has not influenced maize production significantly and also that men constitute a bigger proportion of the agriculture work force than women creating a gender gap in the sector. Improved seeds influence significantly maize production more than other independent variables in this study
Keywords: Agricultural inputs, Agro-dealers, Cooperatives, Crop Intensification program, Extension services, Land Use Consolidation, Production, Productivity
Effect of Crop Intensification Program on Maize Production in Nyagatare, Rwanda. (Published)
This study was conducted in Nyagatare district located in the Eastern Province of Rwanda. Its objective was to assess the effect of the Crop Intensification program (CIP) on maize production in Nyagatare district. Improved seeds, Inorganic fertilizers, Extension services and Land Use Consolidation were the major variables for consideration in this study and assessment was made as to the contribution they made to maize production in CIP in the study area . The study focused on 24 cooperatives with 97 respondents. It used qualitative approaches to generate the opinion of respondents where data was not readily available and also quantitative methods where both primary and secondary data were used. Primary data was collected using questionnaires from random sample of 97 farmers, and it considered the socio-economic characteristics of farmers while Secondary data was collected from different sources, like Ministry of Agriculture, District offices, Agriculture Sector working Group (ASWG) reports , books, reports and internet.. The research used correlation and regression techniques Research findings revealed that youth and educated people’s engagement in agricultural activities is minimal, that Extension services has not influenced maize production significantly and also that men constitute a bigger proportion of the agriculture work force than women creating a gender gap in the sector. Improved seeds influence significantly maize production more than other independent variables in this study .
Keywords: Agricultural inputs, Agro-dealers, Cooperatives, Crop Intensification program, Extension services, Land Use Consolidation, Production, Productivity