Effects of Farm Household Heterogeneity on Agricultural inputs Adoption in Rwanda

Abstract

This study aims to assess the farm household-based factors that affect adoption of agricultural inputs (e.g. inorganic and organic fertilizers, travertine, and improved seeds). The adoption of agricultural inputs for improving crop yields and food security is still limited in many developing countries, including in Rwanda. Soil nutrients outflow go beyond inflow which create negative nutrients balance that affect productivity and call upon inputs use. One size fits all approaches have been used to deliver agricultural technology but famer's diversity undermines the adoption. This study was conducted in Southern, Eastern and Western provinces of Rwanda. Two-stage cluster sampling technique was performed to select respondents; 15 cells were randomly selected in each district within 17districts. Descriptive statistics, logistic regression, and correlation analysis were performed via STATA. Regression results reveal that farm types, irrigation use, and agricultural training have highly significant effects at (p=0.01) and have positive relationships with inorganic fertilizers adoption as well as access to credit, farm labor and cropping system have affected significantly at (p=0.05) but cropping system such as intercropping and farm labor have negative relationships. Moreover, farm types have positive relationships and have no statistical significant effect on the adoption of travertine while agro ecological zone, agricultural training and access to credit have significant effects at (p=0.05). Farm types, agroforestry practices, agricultural training, irrigation practices have positive relationships and affect highly significant at (p=0.01) the adoption of improved seeds. Furthermore, land slope characteristic have positive relationships and affect significantly at (p=0.05) whereas cropping systems like intercropping have negative relationships and affect significantly adoption of improved seeds. Results indicated that access to credit, agricultural training, irrigation practices and cropping systems (monocropping) was the most driving factors for agricultural inputs adoption in the study areas. Farm typologies captured a defined association between agricultural inputs adoption and farm types. Therefore, the current farm typologies should be applied nationally and support programmes tailored to them. In addition strengthening subsidy program to small farmers by promoting irrigation and agroforestry practices are recommended. It is highly recommended for further researchers to analysis the role of crop index based insurance on agricultural inputs adoption.