The role of the use of improved agricultural practices in ensuring food security in Rwanda

CHAPTER ONE: GENERAL INTRODUCTION

1.1 Introduction

This chapter is about the introduction of the study, background of the study, research problem statement, research questions, hypotheses of the research, and objectives of the study scope of the research study choice interest, methodology and the subdivision of the research.

The interest of this research came up when I was conducting my fourth year internship in the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI) in 2013. By getting to know what is all about, I found that it undertakes a survey called Comprehensive food security vulnerability analysis (CFSVA) aiming to gain a better understanding of the nature and degree of food insecurity and malnutrition in the country. I went through CFSVA 2012; I found that BURERA District is among 13 districts with highest share of households with poor food consumption or borderline food consumption. I was interested and motivated to find out whether food security has improved through the use of inputs by consulting different reports, documents, dissertations related to food security and input use, providing also a questionnaire to local people and leaders for getting primary data.

1.2 Background of the study

Agriculture is the backbone of Rwanda's economy and the majority of households in the country are engaged in crop or livestock production activities. The agriculture sector is therefore widely regarded as the major catalyst for economic growth and poverty reduction. In 2010-2011, agricultural growth was 32%, according to the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR). As a share of gross domestic product (GDP)

The agriculture sector makes up 33% of Rwanda's GDP, 70% of exports; employment 72% of population and also agriculture provides 90% national food needs. In March 2013, 24% of households had either poor or borderline food consumption compared to March 2012 when these categories of households were representing 23%. This insignificance difference shows that the overall food security situation is comparable to one year ago^1(*).

It was found that low productivity in Rwanda is mainly attributed to low use of improved agricultural practices. In a violent cycle, the low productivity continues to prevent farmers from using improved agricultural practices, as many farmers barely produce sufficient food to feed their family, and therefore have no income with which to purchase yield enhancing improved agricultural practices. Thus the solution lies in breaking this cycle through appropriate intervention.

Green revolution in Asia (The initiatives, led by Norman Borlaug,) and elsewhere was mediated by the facilitation of modern inputs such as improved seeds, fertilizers and pesticides to farmers. In Rwanda CIP has increased agricultural productivity and food security by a replication of such adoption of modern inputs by the smallholder farmers to Increasing agricultural productivity and food security. Setting this as the goal, the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI) developed the Crop Intensification Program (CIP) in 2007 season 2008A.

Since most of the improved agricultural practices have to be imported, the cost of transportation to remote areas combined with the natural poor demand for inputs keep their prices high. The government with the help of development partners overcame this obstacle through volume procurement of improved seeds and fertilizers from neighbouring countries and distribute them to farmers through a network of public and private partnerships.

a) A snapshot of Food Security Situation in Rwanda

According to CFSVA 2012 report, it is clear that food consumption score used as a preferred single indicator of current household food security. So Households with poor or borderline food consumption was considered to be food insecure while those with acceptable food consumption on are food secure.

In March/April 2012, one in five Rwandan households (21%) had unacceptable food consumption and could be considered to be food insecure. Out of the total population, 4% had poor food consumption (82,000 households), which represents an extremely insufficient and unbalanced diet, and 17% borderline food consumption (378,000 households). These figures show clear improvement since the 2006 CFSVA and seem to indicate a small, although not confirmed, improvement in household food consumption since the last CFSVA and Nutrition Survey was conducted in February/March 2009.

Household with Food Security was better in March 2012 than in September (seasonality, and Household with food stocks) Food Security stable since March 2012. Households with acceptable didn't change Food Consumption between September 2012 and September 2013

Who are vulnerable / Food insecure^2(*)

§ Vulnerable HHs are those Headed by women and elderly headed by Divorced, widows, never married

§ HHs with little land (The less land households have the more likely they are to be food insecure, and the more they need to cope with lack of food)

§ HH having only 1 activity are worse off than those who practice a combination of activities and HHs surviving with uncertain activity (aid/gifts, Gathering, Daily labor) are more food insecure

§ The less the head of HH has formal education, the more the households is food insecure

Where do the Food insecure / Vulnerable live?

§ South & Western Provinces have a higher share of food insecure HHS along all 7 rounds of FNSMS

§ Congo Nile Crest and surrounding areas seem to be more food insecure

Why are they Food insecure / Vulnerable?

§ Diet in Rwanda is mainly based on Starches and pulses, very little meat, poultry Milk and milk mainly consume in households with acceptable FC HH with poor food consumption eat pulses and oil only 1 day per. They do not consume sugar, milk, meat and fruit. HH with acceptable FC eat starch and pulses 7 d/w, Vegetables and fat 5 d/w (oil, butter, ghee)

§ The less households spend the more likely they are to be food insecure, this may be related to low income

§ More people are affected by shocks, more they are vulnerable

§ More vulnerable HHs are affected by High food prices, human illness or accident, loss or reduced HH income and death of a HH working member

Figure 1: Food insecurity by province 2012 vs 2009 Confidence interval: 95%

Food insecurity situation by District

At district level, Rutsiro (53%), Ngororero (44%), Rusizi (49%), Nyamasheke (37%) and Karongi (37%) have the highest percentages of households with unacceptable consumption. The poorer districts tend to have the highest share of households with poor food consumption and are located in the western and southern provinces. Almost three in four (70%) households with poor or borderline food consumption are in 13 districts Ngororero, Rutsiro, Karongi, Rusizi, Gatsibo,Nyamasheke, Nyamagabe, Bugesera, Nyanza,Burera, Gakenke, Rubavu and Rulindo.

Source: CFSVA and Nutrition Survey, 2009 and 2012

In the latest CFSVA report released in December 2012, it pointed out that out

Source: CFSVA and Nutrition Survey, 2009 and 2012

In the latest CFSVA report released in December 2012, it pointed out that out of the total population, 4 percent of Rwandan household's equivalent to 82,000 homes, had poor food consumption, which represents an extremely insufficient and unbalanced diet

«It is said that in March/April 2012, one in five Rwandan households had unacceptable food consumption and could be considered to be food insecure^3(*)

This research has tackled the subject under the title «the role of the use improved agricultural practice use in ensuring food security in rural areas» a case study CYANIKA Sector, BURERA District, Period 2012-2013

* ¹ CFSVA 2013, National Initiatives for food security and Nutrition

* ² Comprehensive Food Security Vulnerability Analysis (CFCVA) report, 2013

* ³ Comprehensive Food Security Vulnerability Analysis (CFCVA) report, released in December 2012