Influence of government of agroforestry technologies in Nyabihu District Rwanda

Abstract

Agroforestry is a collective term which refers to land use systems and technologies, where woody perennials are deliberately planted on the same land management unit with crops and/or animals. Agroforestry technologies from local and international research organisations are available to famiers in Rwanda, but their level of adoption has remained low in the country. The purpose of this study was to investigate how govemrnent policies influence the adoption of agroforestry technologies in Nyabihu District, Rwanda. The government policies examined in this study were inputs subsidy, credit availability, markets for agroforestiy products, availability of agroforestry extension services, and level of agroforestry research. A descriptive survey design was used for this study. Target population for the study was 39,137 farmers. Accessible population consisted of 13,096 agroforestry farmers. Purposive sampling method was used to select Karago, Kintobo, Mukamira and Rugera Sectors from twelve sectors in Nyabihu District. Sample size was 109 agroforestry farmers. An interview schedule was used to get information from farmers. The reliability of the instrument was calculated using Cronbach coefiicient alpha. The reliability coefficient of the instrument was 0.713. The data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Descriptive statistics used were frequencies, percentages and means. inferential statistics used was multiple regressions. The level of significance was 0.05. Data were analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. The findings of the study were that Government policies, which included inputs subsidy, agricultural credit, market for agroforestry products, extension services and agroforestry research have a significant influence on adoption of agroforestry technologies in Nyabihu District. From the study the major conclusions are that markets for agroforestry products and availability of extension services have the greatest influence on adoption of agroforestry teclmologies by farmers in Nyabihu District, while agroforestry research had the least influence on adoption of agroforestry technologies. The major recommendations of the study are that the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Resources should establish a marketing authority for agroforestry products, and establish a training institution for agroforestry staff. This study is significant in that it provides empirical data on the contributions of government policies of inputs subsidy, agricultural credit, market for agroforestry products, extension services and agroforestry research on adoption of agroforestry technologies.