Contextual drivers of climate-smart agroforestry adoption in Bugesera and Rulindo agroecosystems of Rwanda

This study examined 381 farmers from two regions in Rwanda to investigate how contextual factors at the field level interact with climate-smart agroforestry (CSAF) practices. Farmers were categorized as low (LAD), medium (MAD), and high (HAD) adopters based on tree counts. Various contextual factors...

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Main Authors: Donatien Ntawuruhunga, Edwin Estomii Ngowi, Halima Omari Mangi, Raymond John Salanga, Kenneth Lynch Leonard
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-04-01
Series:Climate Services
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405880725000457
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author Donatien Ntawuruhunga
Edwin Estomii Ngowi
Halima Omari Mangi
Raymond John Salanga
Kenneth Lynch Leonard
author_facet Donatien Ntawuruhunga
Edwin Estomii Ngowi
Halima Omari Mangi
Raymond John Salanga
Kenneth Lynch Leonard
author_sort Donatien Ntawuruhunga
collection DOAJ
description This study examined 381 farmers from two regions in Rwanda to investigate how contextual factors at the field level interact with climate-smart agroforestry (CSAF) practices. Farmers were categorized as low (LAD), medium (MAD), and high (HAD) adopters based on tree counts. Various contextual factors — notably location, demographics, assets, farm characteristics, and institutional variables — were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, logit regression, and propensity score matching. Farmers in Bugesera had larger farms and higher tree counts than those in Rulindo, resulting in greater farm income in Bugesera. Positive correlations were found among altitude, slope, erosion class, gender, household size, poverty level, income source, marital status, education, farm area, cropping practices, farm-river distance, changes in CSAF cover, population dynamics, and LAD. CSAF farms outperformed monoculture farms regarding cassava, maize, and bean yields, particularly in Bugesera and Rulindo among larger landholdings. Logit regression analysis showed that combinations of multipurpose trees and crop planting significantly improved farm yields, with household size and farm size being critical factors for CSAF adoption. Propensity score matching confirmed the positive effects of CSAF practices on farm yield and income, contributing to enhanced rural well-being. These findings underscore the crucial role of CSAF in promoting well-being. The results encourage stakeholders to develop strategies for CSAF. While these findings are specific to local contexts, they may hold potential relevance at regional and global levels. This evidence supports the development of government-led policies implemented through extension services to systematize and stabilize CSAF practices across diverse farming systems.
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spelling doaj-art-543d45218c6e48c3a1b1d82685dedda12025-08-20T02:31:12ZengElsevierClimate Services2405-88072025-04-013810058410.1016/j.cliser.2025.100584Contextual drivers of climate-smart agroforestry adoption in Bugesera and Rulindo agroecosystems of RwandaDonatien Ntawuruhunga0Edwin Estomii Ngowi1Halima Omari Mangi2Raymond John Salanga3Kenneth Lynch Leonard4Department of Development and Strategic Studies, Sokoine University of Agriculture, P.O. Box 3000, Chuo Kikuu, Morogoro, Tanzania; SACIDS Foundation for One Health, Sokoine University of Agriculture, P.O. Box 3297 Chuo Kikuu, Morogoro, Tanzania; Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of Maryland, 7998 Regents Drive, College Park, MD 20742, USA; Corresponding author at: Department of Development and Strategic Studies, Sokoine University of Agriculture, P.O. Box 3000, Chuo Kikuu, Morogoro, Tanzania.Department of Development and Strategic Studies, Sokoine University of Agriculture, P.O. Box 3000, Chuo Kikuu, Morogoro, TanzaniaDepartment of Development and Strategic Studies, Sokoine University of Agriculture, P.O. Box 3000, Chuo Kikuu, Morogoro, TanzaniaDepartment of Development and Strategic Studies, Sokoine University of Agriculture, P.O. Box 3000, Chuo Kikuu, Morogoro, TanzaniaDepartment of Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of Maryland, 7998 Regents Drive, College Park, MD 20742, USAThis study examined 381 farmers from two regions in Rwanda to investigate how contextual factors at the field level interact with climate-smart agroforestry (CSAF) practices. Farmers were categorized as low (LAD), medium (MAD), and high (HAD) adopters based on tree counts. Various contextual factors — notably location, demographics, assets, farm characteristics, and institutional variables — were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, logit regression, and propensity score matching. Farmers in Bugesera had larger farms and higher tree counts than those in Rulindo, resulting in greater farm income in Bugesera. Positive correlations were found among altitude, slope, erosion class, gender, household size, poverty level, income source, marital status, education, farm area, cropping practices, farm-river distance, changes in CSAF cover, population dynamics, and LAD. CSAF farms outperformed monoculture farms regarding cassava, maize, and bean yields, particularly in Bugesera and Rulindo among larger landholdings. Logit regression analysis showed that combinations of multipurpose trees and crop planting significantly improved farm yields, with household size and farm size being critical factors for CSAF adoption. Propensity score matching confirmed the positive effects of CSAF practices on farm yield and income, contributing to enhanced rural well-being. These findings underscore the crucial role of CSAF in promoting well-being. The results encourage stakeholders to develop strategies for CSAF. While these findings are specific to local contexts, they may hold potential relevance at regional and global levels. This evidence supports the development of government-led policies implemented through extension services to systematize and stabilize CSAF practices across diverse farming systems.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405880725000457Climate-smart agroforestry (CSAF)Subsistence farmingFood securityFarm productivityClimate-resilient effortsRwanda agroecosystems
spellingShingle Donatien Ntawuruhunga
Edwin Estomii Ngowi
Halima Omari Mangi
Raymond John Salanga
Kenneth Lynch Leonard
Contextual drivers of climate-smart agroforestry adoption in Bugesera and Rulindo agroecosystems of Rwanda
Climate Services
Climate-smart agroforestry (CSAF)
Subsistence farming
Food security
Farm productivity
Climate-resilient efforts
Rwanda agroecosystems
title Contextual drivers of climate-smart agroforestry adoption in Bugesera and Rulindo agroecosystems of Rwanda
title_full Contextual drivers of climate-smart agroforestry adoption in Bugesera and Rulindo agroecosystems of Rwanda
title_fullStr Contextual drivers of climate-smart agroforestry adoption in Bugesera and Rulindo agroecosystems of Rwanda
title_full_unstemmed Contextual drivers of climate-smart agroforestry adoption in Bugesera and Rulindo agroecosystems of Rwanda
title_short Contextual drivers of climate-smart agroforestry adoption in Bugesera and Rulindo agroecosystems of Rwanda
title_sort contextual drivers of climate smart agroforestry adoption in bugesera and rulindo agroecosystems of rwanda
topic Climate-smart agroforestry (CSAF)
Subsistence farming
Food security
Farm productivity
Climate-resilient efforts
Rwanda agroecosystems
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405880725000457
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