Revisiting Rwanda’s agricultural intensification policy: benefits of embracing farmer heterogeneity and crop-livestock integration strategies

Abstract

The government of Rwanda is promoting agricultural intensification focused on the production of a small number of targeted commodities as a central strategy to pursue the joint policy goals of economic growth, food security and livelihood development. The dominant approach to increase the productive capacity of the land, crops and animal resources has been through large-scale land consolidation, soil fertility management, and the intensive use of biotechnology and external inputs. However, evidence has shown that many Rwandan farmers, who employ various strategies and mixed farming practices based on their specific economic, social, and environmental circumstances, face difficulties adopting the singular prescribed approach to become more productive, modern commodity producers. To empirically explore diversity in smallholders’ strategies and their contributions to livelihoods and compatibility with the recent intensification policies, we conducted household surveys and in-depth qualitative interviews in rural and peri-urban zones in Rwamagana district in Eastern Rwanda. Our analysis demonstrates how the dominant approach to intensification and specialisation overlooks the heterogeneity and dynamic nature of smallholder strategies. Moreover, our findings illustrate that a comprehensive understanding of farmer heterogeneity is necessary to explain the critical disjuncture between the government’s vision of modern agriculture and the ability of many smallholders to engage with this agenda and may inform opportunities to adapt policies to better align productivity goals and livelihoods. In doing so, we contribute to debates about the current framing of intensification policy that promotes Green Revolution technologies and emphasise alternative pathways for more inclusive and resilient agricultural development in sub-Saharan Africa.

Research Trends in Crop–Livestock Systems: A Bibliometric Review

“…As rational economic persons, the main consideration of farmers in their decision-making is whether they can gain better economic interests. On the one hand, preferential policies are given to farmers who are willing to participate in the combination of planting and breeding, and the loan conditions for farmers to transfer into land are relaxed [ 62 ]. On the other hand, corresponding subsidies will be given to farmers who have participated in the combination of planting and breeding, and farmers will be supported in the construction of equipment and facilities for the combination of planting and breeding [ 63 ].…”

Assessment of livestock production system and their constraints in smallholder dairy farmers in lowland and highland regions of Rwanda

“…Highlands farmers (65%) had more purchasing power of dairy cows whereas most of farmers in lowlands (56%) acquired the dairy cow through donation. Hence, the two groups were classified in different socio-economic categories (Kim et al, 2022). This may have made livestock keeping in Lowlands households to the stage of subsistence whereas it was more business oriented for highlands where farmers thrived to rear high grade milk producers and they were ready to pay for high inputs to gain more from their cash crops.…”

“…Competition for land is one such important factor where farmers rely on just 0.1 ha per household for both livestock and crop production (Kathiresan, 2012). Due to land scarcity and environment protection purposes, the national policy promoted land consolidation and dairy cattle confinement, which implies the cut and carry feeding system (Kim et al, 2022).…”

“…Zero grazing and semi zero grazing, were the feeding systems practiced in the study area (Kim et al, 2022). All of the selected farmers in Lowlands practiced exclusively zero grazing feeding system while half of farmers in Highlands opted for semi zero grazing; hence, cutting off labors and fodder supplying (Meul et al, 2012).…”

Pyrethrum marc rates and intra-row spacing influence on selected soil chemical parameters and yield of bush bean (Phaseolus Vulgaris L.) grown on andosol under rainfed conditions

“…To achieve this program, the government of Rwanda has initiated subsidy vouchers to enhance the use of mineral fertilizers and other agricultural inputs for small-holder farmers as one of the CIP pillars (Ndushabandi et al, 2018). As an ultimate result of CIP, mineral fertilizer use has increased from 4 kg/Ha per year in 2006 to 31 kg/Ha and even 89 kg/Ha for wealthier farmers per year in 2020 (Kim et al, 2022). It is of paramount importance to note that mineral amendments easily leach from the root zone and thus become inaccessible to crops.…”