Assessing The Drivers Underlying Farmers' Participation In Agricultural Programs In Rwanda:Soil Conservation,Crop Intensification And Adaptation To Climate Change

Agriculture sector in Rwanda employs more than 85% of active population. This sector is threatened by the land fragmentation, decline of soil fertility due to over-cultivation without the use of adequate fertilizers, soil erosion due to inadequate soil conservation techniques especially in the highlands of Rwanda as well as the climate variability and change. Due to these issues, the government intervened in order to boost agricultural growth by investing in soil conservation, crop intensification and adaptation to climate change. For a successful implementation of these government programs, it is essential for farmers to participate. Due to the voluntary nature of participation which led to the low participation, this study aimed therefore at finding out the drivers underlying their participation. This study is an attempt to assess the drivers affecting farmers' participation in soil conservation, crop intensification program and adaptation to climate change. This thesis generates the knowledge of farmers on soil erosion, adaptation to climate change and the socio-economic, institutional and ecological factors affecting their participation. Thus, the thesis (1) assessed the factors affecting the adoption of soil conservation in Northern highlands of Rwanda, (2) identified the factors affecting farmers 'participation in crop intensification program in Northern and Southeastern Rwanda, (3) determined the role of social capital indicators in adaptation to climate change as well as the determinants of farmers' willingness to contribute to the planned adaptation to climate change in Gishwati watershed, Northwestern Rwanda.To achieve the objectives of the study, qualitative and quantitative methods for data collection were used. First,the focus group discussions with members of farmers'cooperative were conducted. Second, the key informant interviews with the agents of the Ministry of Agriculture at the Sector and the District level in charge of agriculture and environment were also done. The preliminary information from focus group discussions and the key informant interviews were integrated into a questionnaire for a large- scale survey in the study areas. The questionnaire helped to quantify and test the factors affecting farmers, adoption of soil conservation techniques in Gatebe sector, Northern highlands of Rwanda (N = 712), the factors affecting farmers 'participation in crop intensification program (N = 340), the drivers of farmers 'willingness to invest in planned adaptation to climate change (N = 705) in Gishwati watershed, Northwestern Rwanda as well as the social capital indicators and their effect on adaptation to climate change (N = 423) around Gishwati forest, Northwestern Rwanda.The main results are as follows:1) On the adoption of soil conservation techniques, about 50% of farmers in Gatebe sector,Northern highlands of Rwanda were aware of the causes of soil erosion such as cultivation on steep slope, frequent and intense rainfall and inadequate soil erosion control practices. In spite of the adoption of soil conservation techniques such as agroforestry, vegetative strips,infiltration ditches, fence and hedge rows, the soil erosion persists because of over-cultivation on small farmlands with steep slope, insufficient soil conservation techniques among others. On the factors affecting the adoption of soil conservation techniques, farmers who inherited the land or bought it were 1.55 times more likely to adopt the soil conservation techniques than those who borrowed or rented because the land ownership is more likely to attract investment in durable soil conservation techniques. However, farmers who joined the land use consolidation were 0.14 times less likely to adopt the soil conservation techniques because of the change of existing farming systems. The findings of this study implied that the increase of farmers' awareness on soil erosion and efficient adoption of soil conservation techniques through participatory approach could improve the adoption of soil conservation techniques.2) On the participation in the crop intensification program, the decision to participate was strongly influenced by gender, age, household size, non-farm income, farmland size,farming experience, land acquisition means, market access and agro-ecological conditions.In fact, the positive significant effect of the farmland size on the participation implies that,since the farmland size is generally less than 0.5 ha, the farmers who joined the land use consolidation avoided the land fragmentation. On the land acquisition means, the farmers who inherited or bought the land are more likely to participate in the CIP because they feel they have land tenure security. However, the participation was hindered by inadequate irrigation and mechanization facilities, lack of farmers' participation in the planning process, inadequate extension services, inadequate quantity of inputs, late delivery of inputs to farmers and inadequate food storage and drying facilities. The findings implied that the closer collaboration and interactions between farmers, local leaders, extension agents and agricultural service providers as well as the farmers' practical skills in irrigation and mechanization could enhance the participation and lead to the success of the program.3) On the role of social capital on adaptation to climate change, the structural social capital indicators such as membership in cooperative, membership in group based credit,membership in labor sharing group, extension services rendered to farmers and spirit of participation in communal activities played a significant positive role in improving adaptation to climate change. The most adopted adaptation measures to climate change include the soil and water conservation measures, crop diversification, reforestation and early warning system. However, the cognitive social capital indicators were not significant.Therefore, policy-makers should closely collaborate with local people in order to improve the cognitive social capital indicators for effective adaptation to climate change.4) On the farmers' willingness to invest in planned adaptation to climate change, about 50%recognized that climate change is happening and 88% knew about planned adaptation to climate change. About 25% of farmers were willing to contribute the money while 75%would want to contribute the labor. About 5% were unwilling to contribute anything. The willingness to contribute the labor was positively and significantly influenced by the education, household size, farmland size and high concern about climate change while the willingness to pay for the money was positively and significantly influenced by the age, the change in temperature and the high concern about climate change. Most farmers were willing to contribute the labor and the practical knowledge for adaptation to climate change.As the willingness to pay the money was very low, the government should continue to raise more funds from donors to help farmers cope with climate change adaptation.