Factors influencing farmers' participation in crop intensification program in Rwanda

The crop intensification program (CIP) was introduced in Rwanda in 2007 by the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI), Rwanda, as a solution to the land fragmentation, low use of agricultural inputs and low access to extension services. However, due to the voluntary nature of farmers' participation and their reluctance to participate, this study aimed at assessing the factors that influence their participation. Data were collected from 340 respondents through a household survey in Mayange and Rusarabuye sectors. Descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression model were used to analyze the data. Results show that the factors that significantly influenced the farmers' participation in the CIP include gender, non-farm income, farmland size, farming experience, land acquisition means, market access, trust and agro-ecological conditions. In fact, the non-farm income significantly increased the farmers' decisions to participate in the CIP (P<0.001) as it eases the financial capital needed to invest in the CIP activities. On the land acquisition means, the farmers who inherited or bought the land positively and significantly participated in the CIP (P<0.05) because they had the land tenure security. However, the participation in the CIP was hindered by inadequate irrigation and mechanization facilities, lack of farmers' participation in the CIP planning process, inadequate extension services, inadequate agricultural inputs and inadequate post-harvest technologies. Closer collaboration between farmers, local leaders, extension agents and agricultural service providers as well as the farmers' practical skills in irrigation and mechanization could enhance the participation to the program. Therefore, there is a need on the part of policymakers to empower farmers with adequate knowledge on better cropping practices and agricultural technologies through appropriate extension services and bottom-up based program.