Effects of land use consolidation practices on crop production in Rwanda A case study of Rugabano sector in Karongi District

Abstract

NUWUMUREMYI JEANNINE MDS/0011/12 ABSTRACT The general objective of this study is to assess the impact of Land Use Consolidation Practices on Crop Production in Rwanda. Land Use Consolidation practices have been implemented since 2007 in Rwanda, but it has not drawn more concerns on academic. The specific objectives aim to assess the rate of land consolidation, to verify a crop yield at household level in Karongi District and to examine out challenges faces the farmers in Land Use Consolidation practices implementation. The study targeted the farmers from Rugabano Sector in Kayoing District. Primary data was collected using administered questionnaires respondents, and through interviews with the key informants. The sample size was derived from 7,295 households from Rugabano Sector and according to Morgan’s formula the sample size was calculated; and the list of sampled households was obtained by adding the interval of N/n and from this, 99 respondents were found. Each respondent’s questionnaire was coded, recorded and analyzed with Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS). The research result revealed that most of the land cultivated in Karongi District was located in consolidated site; the study proved also that land us consolidation had a great impact on crop yield production where it revealed that the crop yield of maize and beans in the area of the study have been increased after the adoption of the LUC practices where the yield of some respondents have shifted from one category of yield to another or have been increased within the same category. However a number of challenges have been discovered from the research such as problems related to different pest and diseases which destroy their crops, dry season or too much rain which lead to reduction of crop production; and finally a serious challenge in purchasing power for different required inputs. It is from that background the researcher came up with the following recommendation: The out farm activities should rise the purchasing power of farmers. The involvement of all stakeholders in all activities related to the program, especially farmers, should make it more profitable and then give better results