An Economic Analysis of the Factors Influencing Adoption of Climbing Beans Varieties and Challenges of Smallholder Farmers in Rwanda: A Case Study of Burera District

Abstract

Agriculture plays an important role in the economic growth and development prospects of a vast majority of developing countries including Rwanda. Grain legumes also serve as rotation crops with cereals, reducing soil pathogens and supplying nitrogen to the cereal crop. Food legume crops are considered vital crops for achieving food and nutritional security for both poor producers and consumers. One of the important legume crops grown in Rwanda is common bean (<i>Phaseolus vulgaris</i> <I>L.</I>) which is the most priority crop occupying the largest arable land and consumed by majority of people. It is an important food legume for direct consumption as well as a source of farm income in Rwanda. The study was conducted in Burera district of Northern Province of Rwanda. A multistage sampling technique was employed in this study. Eighteen (18) farmers were randomly selected from each of the seven sectors making one hundred and twenty six (126) farmers do agriculture of common beans as commercial purpose as sample size. The main objective of the present study was to analyse the factors influencing the adoption of climbing beans and challenges of smallholder farmers in Rwanda. The results indicated that out of 126 respondents the majority were female. The findings indicated that, the majority of farmers grow their beans on less than 0.5ha. The results show that eight variables out of nine positively influence beans adoption while two variables negatively influence the adoption of climbing beans. The results show that land size, family size, high yield, educational level, off-farm income, output, price, farming experience, and extension services were significant in influencing adoption of climbing beans varieties. The results indicated that climbing beans produce up to three times more than the bush beans varieties. Many farmers mention staking as a major challenge to growing climbing beans. Afforestation, increasing agroforestry trees, adoption of poles and ropes, which can be used as staking materials, should be reinforced in study area. This will help to improve soil fertility through N-fixation, erosion control, environmental protection. Climbing bean residues complement animal feeds and organic manure production.