Rural livelihood strategies and Food security access in Rwanda. Case study of: Nyanza District

Abstract

This research was conducted with the objective of analyzing the extent to which rural livelihoods strategies help rural households to have access to food security in Rwanda, case of Nyanza district. The research has 5 specific objectives which are: a) To investigate the extent to which rural livelihoods strategies contribute to the accessibility of food security in Nyanza district. b) To know the contribution of off-farm activities to the accessibility of food security in Nyanza district. c) To know most relevant initiatives adopted by rural households of Nyanza district to cope with food insecurity. d) To know the main source of income of people from Nyanza district. e) To investigate the causes of food insecurity in Nyanza district. Food insecurity has been a problem in Nyanza district as referred to the statistic presented by world food program in 2015 where 63% of residents of Nyanza district are prescribed as food insecure. To reach the research objectives, quantitative research approach was adopted and random sampling was adopted where 410 head of households were randomly selected in the entire district to respond to questionnaire and interviews. The tools which were used in data analysis includes tables, frequencies, percentages and cross tabulation. The results show that 65.4% of households interviewed claim that strategies performed do not respond to the problem of food insecurity within households; 64.6% never predict for food scarcity, 47.3 never practice saving and 87.3% claim that their land is not enough to yield in agricultural production to sustain food within their households. In most households, food insecurity is caused by lack money, limited land, limited access to fertilizers and selected seeds, limited diversification of livelihood activities, inaccessibility to the market place, limited saving and lack of awareness on matter aligned with a balanced diet. To address food insecurity, Nyanza district as well its development partners were recommended: To adopt a multidimensional intervention which is household- centered to ensure that households are resilient and be able to cope with external shocks including food insecurity. Also they are recommended to teach rural people to adopt saving culture; to prepare, implement and monitor nutrition campaign at grassroots level; and establish mechanism for catch-up to reduce adults’ illiteracy. Finally, the Ministry of agriculture and animal resources together with its partners are recommended to collaborate with Nyanza district to enable rural farmer access and use fertilizers and selected seeds to make sure that their agricultural production is improved.