4.1. Introduction
This
chapter presents findings of the field study and their interpretation. The
findings are presented and analyzed in the context of the problem studied, the
objectives and the research questions that were formulated at the beginning of
the study and literature reviewed. The study was intended to establish the
«The role of the use of improved agricultural practices in
ensuring food security in Rwanda», with the particular case study
on CYANIKA sector, BURERA District
4.2. Demographic
perspective
For purposes of objectivity, the researcher focused on both
female and male respondents Socio-demographic characteristics. This section
presents some socio-demographic characteristics of respondents with a focus on
their gender, Head of Household, Livelihood activity and level of education.
Table 1: Respondents' demographics per gender, Head of
Household, Livelihood activity and level of education
|
Gender
|
Head of Household
|
Livelihood activity
|
Level of education
|
|
Male
|
46.87%
|
Man
|
32.29%
|
Agriculture
|
55.20%
|
Primary
|
37.50%
|
|
Female
|
53.12%
|
Women
|
41.66%
|
Livestock
|
17.70%
|
Secondary
|
10.41%
|
|
Total
|
100%
|
Elder
|
13.54%
|
Both
|
12.50%
|
University
|
7.29%
|
|
|
Non married
|
9.37%
|
State agent
|
10.41%
|
Vocation
|
9.37%
|
|
Children
|
3.12%
|
Other
|
4.16%
|
None
|
35.41%
|
|
Total
|
100%
|
Total
|
100%
|
Total
|
100%
|
Source: Results of field study,
2014
With regard to the head of household, the majority of them
were headed by women, man, elder, non married and children under 18years with
41.66%, 32.29%, 13.54%, 9.37%, and 3.12% respectively
As far as the education level is concerned, 35.41% of the
respondents do not have a primary school certificate while 37.50% have it.
Almost 10.41% of respondents in this category have attended secondary schools
and 7.29% have a higher learning education degree. Only 9.37% of respondents
in this category are holders of a vocation training certificates.
4.3.: Proportion (%) of
respondents views on the cause of low productivity, who decide to harvest the
production, who decide to sell/consume the production and whether they are
allowed to choose a buyer they want (in the period of 2012-2013)
Table 2: respondents' views
|
Cause of low production
|
Decision to consume or sell
|
Member of cooperative
|
|
low level of using fertilizers
|
14.58%
|
head of cooperative
|
46.87%
|
yes
|
76.04%
|
|
small land
|
44.79%
|
public authorities
|
26.04%
|
no
|
23.95%
|
|
use of traditional methods
|
20.83%
|
head of household
|
27.08%
|
Free to harvest
|
|
low level of using improved seeds
|
12.50%
|
|
yes
|
66.66%
|
|
low level of using insect killer
|
7.29%
|
no
|
33.33%
|
Source: Results of field study,
2014
The majority of the respondents (44.7%) said that the
productivity in CYANIKA sector is affiliated to the small land of cultivation
and the use of traditional tools in their agricultural activities (20.83%).
However, few respondents (7.29%) revealed that it is attributed to the low use
of pesticides.
66.66% of participants in this study reflect that they decide
for themselves to harvest their production while 33.33% said that someone else
decide for themselves. The majority (76.04%) of the sample size surveyed
reflects by the fact that are the members of farmers cooperatives on the other
side, 66.66% of them said that the Head of cooperative decide for themselves
when and how to harvest while 26.04% reported their administrative authorities
and lastly, 77.08% reported a problem of not allowed to choose the buyer when
they want to sell or to consume their production
| 
