Characterisation of farming systems in southern Rwanda

TABLE OF CONTENT

DEDICATION i

AKNOWELEDGEMENTS ii

ABSTRACT iii

TABLE OF CONTENT iv

LIST OF TABLES vi

LISTE OF FIGURES vii

LIST OF APPENDICES viii

ACRONYMS AND ABREVIATIONS ix

PART I. GENERAL INTRODUCTION 1

I.1. PROBLEM STATEMENT 1

I.2. Global objective 2

I.3. Specific objectives 2

I.4. Hypothesis 2

I.5. Structure of the report 3

PART II. OVERVIEW OF MAJOR FARMING SYSTEMS IN SUB-SAHARIAN AFRICA (SSA) 4

II.1. Definition 4

II.2. Types of farming systems found in Rwanda 4

II.2.1. cropping systems 4

II.2.1.1. Intercropping 4

II.2.1.2. Rotation 5

II.2.1.3. Monoculture 6

II.2.1.4. Fallows 6

II.2.1.5. Agroforestry (Tree Integration) 7

II.2.2. Livestock systems. 8

II.2.2.1. Traditional system 8

II.2.2.2. Improved system 8

II.2.2.3 Modern system 8

II.2.3. Mixed systems 9

II.3 ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL ASPECTS 10

II.4 AGRICULTURE EXPLOITATION IN RWANDA 12

II.4.1 Structure of the agricultural exploitation 12

II.4.2 Typology and characteristics of agricultural farms in Rwanda 13

II.5. NUTRIENT BALANCE PERCEPTION AND IMPORTANCE. 14

II.5.1. Nutrient element balance as perceived generally. 14

II.5.2. Plant nutrient balance in Sub Sahara Africa 14

II.5.3. Availability of major elements in soil and their importance 15

PART III. DESCRIPTION OF THE SITE AND METHODOLOGY 16

III.1 DESCRIPTION OF THE SITE 16

III.1.1 Site location 16

III.1.2 Climatic data 17

III.2 METHODOLOGY 19

III.2.1.STUDY FRAMEWORK 19

III.2.2. Site selection and characteristics 20

III.2.3. Wealth categorization and farmer selection 20

III.2.4. data collection 22

III.2.5. Methods and techniques 22

PART IV: ANALYSIS AND PRESENTATION OF RESULTS 24

IV.1 SURVEY RESULTS 24

IV.1.1.BACK GROUND INFORMATION 24

IV.1.1.1.Farmer wealth categories 24

IV.1.1.2.Farm types according to household head sex 24

IV.1.1.3.Education and skills level 25

IV.1.1.4.Household size 26

IV.1.1.5.Type of group affiliation 26

IV.1.2.SOCIO-ECONOMIC ASPECT 27

IV.1.2.1.Land tenure status 27

IV.1.2.2.Total farm size 28

IV.1.2.3.Area fallowed 28

IV.1.2.4.Area under pasture 29

IV.1.2.5.Trees on farm 29

IV.1.2.6.Labour force availability 30

IV.1.2.7.Workers availability 31

IV.1.2.8.Labour sale 32

IV.1.2.9.Important food crops 33

IV.1.2.11.Livestock 35

IV.1.3. FARM MANAGEMENT ASPECTS. 37

IV.1.3.1.Use of inorganic fertilizers 37

IV.1.3.2. Use of Organic fertilizers 38

IV.2. SOIL NUTRIENT STATUS 39

IV.2.1 General Trend of Nutrient Distribution In Different Plots 39

IV.2.2 Differences of Soil Fertility Within Farm 40

PART V DISCUSSION 43

PART VI: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS 46

REFERENCES 47

Appendixes 51

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1: Climatic data of Ngoma station 17

Table 2. Criteria used by farmers to categorize themselves in wealth categories 21

Table 3: Households head according to sex in wealth categories 25

Table 4: Education and skills level of farmers in relation to wealth status 26

Table 5: Household size in different wealth category 26

Table 6: Type of group affiliation and wealth category 27

Table 7: Land tenure in relation to farmer wealth status 28

Table 8: Total farm area in different wealth categories groups. 28

Table 9: Area fallowed based on wealth groups categories condition 29

Table 10: Grazing area in relation to wealth status 30

Table 11: Trees on farm according wealth categories groups. 30

Table 12: Labour force in different wealth groups categories 31

Table 13: Permanent and temporarily Labour hired in relation to farmer wealth status 32

Table 14: Labour sale distribution in wealth groups categories 32

Table 15: Livestock ownerships in wealth group categories 36

Table 16: use of Inorganic fertilizers in different wealth groups 37

Table 17: use of Organic fertilizers in different wealth group 38