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