Abstract:
People in Gishwati-Mukura are good pastoralists compared to the rest of the country. However,
their pastoral areas need to be maintained. REMA through the LAFREC project planted of
agroforestry trees species, indigenous species, fodder species on an area of 456.23 ha in four
district which were Nyabihu,Rubavu,Rutsiro and Ngororero district. This study aims to
investigate pastoralists’perceptions and adoption of silvopastoral systems in Gishwati-Mukura
landscape. Field survey was conducted by using semi structured questionnaire,145 respondents
were selected where 78 respondents of them were purposive selected as pastoralists and
beneficiaries of LAFREC project and the remained 67 respondents were pastoralists but nonbeneficiaries of LAFREC project. The results showed that adoption of silvopastoral systems is
still low even the trial made by LAFREC project in the area that is showed by none of the
respondents adopted silvopastoral systems except beneficiaries of LAFREC project. The
adopters those who were beneficiaries of LAFREC project had boundary planting and trees
dispersed in pastures as silvopastoral practices.The dominant trees species presented in pastures
were Alinus acuminata,Tithonoa diversifolia,Leucena leucocophala and Calliandra
calothrus. The respondents perceived that Alinus acuminate resisted to fail due to its ability of
fast growing, fast sprout, tolerant to invasive and easy management .The adoption of
silvopastoral systems was perceived to be challenged by Insufficient fund at 100% by
pastoralists,95.17 % of respondents perceived the damage to trees by grazing cattle, on
availability of seedlings 62.76 % and limited extensions services 4.83% .Therefore pastoralists
can be encouraged in adopting silvopastoral systems through increasing silvopastoral extension
services, practical training, follow up to the implemented activities and establishing of the trees
nurseries in the study area.
