Assessment of adoption and impact of sericulture farming on rural farm household income in Rwanda: a case of members of sericulture cooperatives in Karongi District

Abstract

Since 2005, sericulture has been introduced in Rwanda in order to increase highly the production from its scarce land and as source of high income and employment for Rwanda poor farmers in rural area. Because of the high value of silk yarn and the favorable climatic conditions for mulberry cultivation, sericulture was seen as a potential tool for poverty reduction and soil conservation. In this research we assess the factors influencing the adoption of sericulture farming and its impact on farmer’s income. In order to assess the impact of sericulture farming on rural household income, we used in this study the propensity score matching technique. It then assesses the factors that influence the adoption of sericulture farming through which it influences farm income. Sericulture is a relatively recent phenomenon in Rwandan farming activities and its adoption is treated as an agricultural technological innovation. Our impact assessment indicates that the poverty reduction effects of sericulture adoption are still very low, but acknowledge the limitations of such estimation at an early adoption stage. As sericulture diffuses further among farmers, the availability of more data will enhance the accuracy of the impact assessment. Our findings confirm the existing empirical evidence on agriculture technology adoption showing that the adoption of new crop varieties, which is usually conditional on its profitability with respect to traditional crops, contributes to enhancing household income and reducing poverty among adopting farmers. Because of the additional beneficial effects of sericulture farming on soil protection and water conservation, the social benefits of sericulture are even much larger than individual income enhancement. The identified iincome benefit of the sericultureadoption, didn’t allow its implementation to be more adequate to achieve appropriate skills to be proficient in this new technology to the point of its establishment in the Rwanda economy. vi From the mentioned factors which are the human skills and other market factors, we have to consider also the necessity of appropriate and adequate infrastructures together with a proper incentive system which will allow to plan a fruitful and productive technology absorption in the country. In order to overcome the mentioned limitations, it is necessary to put together new technology adoption and long term objectives. Finally, in order to promote increased adoption of sericulture farming and its impact on farm income; researchers, government, development bodies and investors have to establish a production system of silk worm eggs suitable for our tropical Rwanda condition and establish a silk processing company which will guarantee the market for cocoons produced by farmers.