Smallholder Farmers’ Outside Support and Its Effect on Adoption of Radical Terraces and Food Security

Emmanuel Murwanashyaka, Preston Orieko Chitere and James Gichuru Kariuki

International Journal of Food and Agricultural Economics (IJFAEC), 2021, vol. 09, issue 2

Abstract: Radical terraces are innovative farming techniques promoted for increased agricultural yield. However, some terraces have not been fully exploited due to the farmers’ limited supports. This has a great impact on Rwanda's farming productivity where food security is still a crucial problem. This study, therefore, assessed the contribution of farmers’ outside support on the adoption of radical terraces for food security in Nyamagabe District, Rwanda. A descriptive correlational research design was adopted. Outside support and adoptiondiffusion of innovations perspectives guided this study. Cluster and purposive sampling techniques were used to sample 192 farmers and 19 key informants. Data was collected using a questionnaire, interview guide, direct observations, and documentation. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics of Pearson correlation coefficient and chi-square while thematic analysis was used for qualitative data. Findings revealed that outside support influenced the adoption of radical terraces and food production and security. Furthermore, many smallholder farmers had been supported and improved their food production and security after they adopted radical terraces. It was concluded that the outside support significantly influenced farmer’s adoption and food production and security. Both local and national government and development partners such as NGOs should support the farmers with low-interest credits to enable them to invest in the farms. Also, the local, and national government of Rwanda and its development partners should support the farmers with farming inputs like lime, fertilizers, farm yield manure and wheat and distribute them to farmers in time for better use of radical terraces.

Keywords: Agribusiness; Community/Rural/Urban Development; Crop Production/Industries; Farm Management; Food Security and Poverty; Production Economics; Productivity Analysis; Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ags:ijfaec:319737

DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.319737

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