Effect of Crop Intensification Programe: Analysis of its Contribution to Input Use and Extension Services in Nyagatare District, Rwanda

Abstract

The Crop Intensification Program (CIP) was initiated in September 2007 by the government of Rwanda to increase the agricultural productivity of high potential food crops, and to provide Rwanda with greater food security and self-sufficiency. This was to be through use of farm inputs such as improved seeds and fertilizers, land consolidation and extension services. 10 years after the introduction of CIP, maize productivity has remained at 3.2MT/Ha below targeted levels of 6MT/Ha, and application rates for fertilizers still remain at 38kg/ha/annum compared to the 2015 CIP targets of 50kg/ha/annum . The Objectives of the study was, to analyze the influence of CIP on use of improved maize seeds for enhanced maize production, to determine the influence of CIP on fertilizer usage for maize production in and to assess the influence of CIP on accessibility of extension services for increased maize production in Nyagatare District. The sample in the study included Adopters and Non-Adopters of CIP. The sample size was 164 respondents using Slovin Formula at 5% significance Level. It used qualitative approaches to generate the opinion of respondents and also quantitative methods where both primary and secondary data were used. Data analysis was performed by STATA version 13.0.Descriptive statistics like frequency, percentage, means and standard deviation were used. T-test statistics was used to compare means of variables. Probit model was used to indicate the effect of CIP on the targeted variables. Research findings revealed that access to improved seeds (Hybrid) influenced more than other independent variables (R-Square= 0.89) and use of fertilizers was the least variable that influenced CIP (R-Squared=0.70). The majority of respondents completed primary education (69%) while the median age for farmers was 40 years .The study recommends the public and private extensionists should ensure there are Farmer Field Schools established close to maize gardens ,that Government and Extension Agents sensitize farmers on use of fertilizers and to conduct sufficient training for farmers to adopt Good Agricultural Practices and make improved seeds accessible to farmers and to conduct their extension services beyond farms and across to the whole maize value chain.