Agroforestry practices for livelihood improvement in Rutsiro district, Western province, Rwanda

Abstract

Agroforestry practices significantly enhance livelihoods by diversifying income sources, improving food security and increasing agricultural productivity. They provide sustainable land use, bolster resilience against climate change, and offer ecosystem services such as soil fertility and biodiversity conservation. The goal of Rwanda's agroforestry policy is to accelerate the extent of agroforestry-based agricultural land restoration and sustainable biomass energy use, with associated improvements to land health, livelihoods, and poverty reduction. This study assesses to what extent agroforestry is contributing to improved livelihood in the Rutsiro District and provides insights on how enhances household income. The sample size of 395 households was used through stratified method and data collected through surveys, interviews, and field observations. The gathered information was processed, and analyzed using Microsoft Excel. Statistical tests were conducted using Excel to answer the hypotheses based on the findings. Results indicated that households practicing agroforestry experienced a 20% increase in income, improved food security by 25%, and significantly improved soil fertility (90%). The analysis also revealed that these benefits were more pronounced in areas with supportive local livelihood improvement. Recommendations include the promotion of agroforestry through policy incentives, provision of technical training, further research to explore long-term impacts and scalability. Overall, agroforestry is a promising strategy for sustainable farmers’ livelihood