Effect Of Uptake Of Climate Information Services On Food Crops Productivity In Rwanda

Abstract

The accumulated effects of both rainfall and temperature changes impose substantial threats to food crops productivity patterns in the rain-fed agricultural system in developing countries, Rwanda included. Suitable climate forecasts would undoubtedly help farmers to respond proactively to threats generated by climate variability. The main objective of this study was to assess the effect of uptake of climate information services on food crops productivity in Rwanda. Specifically, this study sought to (1) examine the types of climate information received by smallholder farmers (2) assess the uptake and use of climate information by the smallholder farmers for food crops productivity (3) assess the effect of climate information uptake on improved farm inputs and yield of food crops and (4) examine the effect of climate information uptake, on food crops productivity. A random sampling process was employed to select the respondents. Survey data was collected on ninety-seven (97) respondents from thirty-two villages. Qualitative data were collected from 88 interviewees encompassing district agronomist officer, sector agronomist officers, social economic and development officers (SEDO) as well as farmer promoters in each district. The data was collected using both structured schedule and interview schedule. Descriptive and comparative analysis were used to summarize the study findings. The results revealed that seasonal forecast of the rainfall onset; rain cessation and length of the season were the most important forecast information most desired by the respondents, Radio and farmers promoters were found to be the most effective communication channels of climate information. The results also indicated that changing planting date, early land preparation and changing crop variety and application of fertilizers and pesticides were the common farm-level climate adaptation strategies. However, the distribution of adaptation strategies and its intensification varied from one district to the other depending on weather-related events. The results further indicated that the uptake of climate information brought incremental inputs cost leading to improved yields. The evidence of the general productivity index of some crops for the users of climate information remained above the productivity indexes of those who did not use climate information to adjust their farming practices over the last three consecutive agricultural seasons. Support from both Government and non-government actors in building smallholder farmers' resilience to climate shocks and risks was found to be in evidence, however, much is still needed, especially in physical investment incentives, to sustainably increase farmers food crop productivity in the study area.