Influencing Drivers of Agricultural Production Technology of Rice in Burundi

Abstract

The adoption of agricultural technologies has become the key to limiting imports and meeting Burundi's rice food needs. This is because rice production is generally low in the country due to the ever-increasing population. This study identified the constraints of rice production, assessed the rate and identified the determinants of the adoption of the rutete rice variety. Primary data was collected using the well-structured questionnaire from 524 rice farmers who were selected using a simple random sampling in the study area. Data analysis was performed using Kendall's tau coefficient for constraints, probit for adoption rate and Heckman's sample selection model for determinants. According to the results, the insufficiency or delay in the supply of fertilizers, the problem of water availability and the problem of access to agricultural credit are the major constraints of rice production. They also show that 29% of respondents have adopted the rutete rice variety. Furthermore, the results show that sex, level of education, planted area, access to extension services, membership in an association and possession of a mobile phone are the determinants of the adoption of the variety of rice rutete. It is therefore recommended that farmers in the study area be encouraged to adopt the rutete rice variety. We also recommend that the government subsidize agricultural inputs and put in place a policy of loosen the tax burden to the microfinance so that the cost of access agricultural credit for rice farmers is lowered. This will prompt an increase of production. Rice farmers who are not members in the farmer-associations should be sensitized to participate.