1.4 Hypotheses tested
This study tested the following hypotheses:
1. Smallholder maize farms in Southern Rwanda are technically
efficient
2. Distance from households' residences to plots negatively
affects the productivity and technical efficiency of smallholder maize farms in
Southern Rwanda
3. The smaller the plot size the lower the levels of
productivity and technical efficiency of smallholder maize farms in Southern
Rwanda
4. The higher the number of plots owned by the household, the
lower the levels of productivity and technical efficiency of smallholder maize
farms in Southern Rwanda
5. Number of plots, distance to the plots and plot size reduce
the productivity and technical efficiency of smallholder farms in Southern
Rwanda
1.5 Justification of the
study
This study came at a time when the efficiency of smallholder
family farms is highly disputed in Rwanda. There was need to establish whether
smallholder farms are efficient and if not to identify the causes/sources of
such inefficiency such that appropriate policies can be adopted to address the
problem. The findings of this study will suggest key factors that may enhance
the productivity and technical efficiency of farms. Unlike previous studies in
Rwanda, this study captured plot size, distance from household residence to
plots and number of plots per household in the analysis of the effect of land
fragmentation on the productivity and technical efficiency of smallholder maize
farms in Rwanda.
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