Effects of Agricultural Green Revolution on Farmers of Ngoma District, Rwanda

ABSTRACT 

In general, green revolution of agriculture began in 1943 in the crop land of Mexico to aid in the nationals’ industrial development and economic growth. In 1984 agriculture green revolution have been advanced in African countries and the progress has been slow. Through the application of agriculture green revolution, in 2009, Rwanda, for the first time, saw the production of crops exceed the consumption needs. Although there is a high production of crops in Rwanda today, particularly in Ngoma district, there is yet another big problem in terms of market. The farmers carry out intensive farming which leads to high production of both food crops and cash crops which would help to improve the farmer’s economic levels and the economic development of the country at large. It is unfortunate that the farmers lack the market for their products. Owing to the problem above, the researcher picked interest to carry out this study to find out possible solutions to the problem. The main purpose of the study was to investigate and assess the effects of agriculture green revolution on farmers of Ngoma district. The research report adopted a case study research design. The sample size of 162 was selected from 280 respondents of whom 153 were farmers and 9 agronomists using stratified random sampling. Questionnaire and interview guide were used as instruments of collecting data. The findings of the study showed that green revolution policy has positive effects on economic development of farmers. Among those, revealed the following: green revolution agriculture has contributed to the increase of crops; easy distribution and use of agricultural inputs such as seeds, fertilizers and pesticides; easy sensitization and giving information to the farmers about agriculture green revolution policy; sustainable land use and land use consolidation.

But green revolution agriculture still has same limitations which needs to be addressed, such as climate change; low level of mechanization and irrigation; lack of enough knowledge about utilization of chemical fertilizer and chemical pesticides on the party of farmers; lack of market to the farmers in order to sell their crops; also, the respondents have mentioned the problem related to the poor infrastructure which affect the transport of crops and the problem of rural finance banking which is not enough in order to give the loans to the farmers for increasing their level of investment. Finally, the study recommended that development of infrastructure; decentralization of industries; Economic management; improvement of local, regional, internal and external market exchange; development of strategies for protection of environment and an increase in the level of mechanization and irrigation should be done in order to eradicate the challenges of agriculture green revolution in Rwanda.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

Declaration A

Declaration B ii

Approval sheet iii

Dedication iv

Acknowledgements v

Abstract vi

Table of contents viii

List of Tables xi

List of figures xii

Acronyms xiv

Chapter

One THE PROBLEM AND ITS SCOPE 1

Introduction 1

Background of the Study 1

Statement of the Problem 3

Purpose of the Study 4

Research Objectives 5

Research Questions 5

Hypothesis 6

Scope 6

Significance of the Study 7

Operational Definitions of Key Terms 7

Conceptual framework 9

Two REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE 11

Introduction 11

Green revolution for rural Rwanda 11

Challenges on the agricultural sector in Rwanda 16

Green revolution Infrastructures 22

Three METHODOLOGY 25

Introduction 25

Research Design 25

Research Population 25

Sample Size 26

Sampling Procedure 26

Research Instrument 28

Validity and Reliability of the Instrument 29

Data Gathering Procedures 30

Data Analysis 31

Ethical Considerations 31

Limitations of the Study 31

Four PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA 32

Five FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS, RECOMMENDATIONS 42

Findings 42

Conclusions 43

Recommendations 44

References 46

Appendices

Appendix I - Transmittal Letter 4g

Appendix II - Clearance from Ethics Committee 50

Appendix III - Research Instrument 51

Appendix IV: Report about Maize Agriculture in Ngoma District (2010) 55

Appendix V: Rwanda Cereal Production 56

Appendix VI: Researcher’s Curriculum Vitae 57