An Economic Analysis of the Impact of Contract Farming of Broccoli Production on Youth Development: A Case of Musanze District

Abstract

Majority of population engaged in agricultural activities are more aged and still predominantly practise traditional and subsistence farming systems. The decreasing number of young people involved in farming as a business is a national signal of distress in the agricultural sector. This is already negatively influencing the economy. The global objective of this paper was to analyse the impact of contract farming of broccoli production on youth development. The study was conducted in Musanze district, Muko, Remera, Kinigi, and Nyange sectors. A multi-stage sampling technique, purposive sampling, and stratification random sampling were employed due to the location and distribution of both individuals and cooperatives farmers growing this crop. Hundred and twenty 120-broccoli farmers were interviewed. The results indicated that age, education level, extensions services, amount of fertilisers used, contracted price, improved seeds used, irrigation system employed by respondents growing broccoli showed a positive influence on quantity of production of broccoli as expected and were statistically significant at (P<0.01). Experience of grower, pests and diseases control had positive influence to the quantity of broccoli produced at (P<0.05). The land reserved to broccoli farming had not significantly influenced broccoli production in the study area while labourers had a negative influence on broccoli production in study area. The results of the study indicated that contract farming system in agriculture sector contributed much more on the development of youth in Rwanda particularly in study area. It has contributed on youth income increase, jobs creation, inputs provision, access to the extension services, access to information, reduced the youth migration. However, the results also indicated the major constraints faced by youth to be involved in contract farming such as lack of support, Lack of access to credits, Lack of access to land, Lack of farming experience, Lack of information, Lack of youth policies, Transaction costs, Shortage of production, Limited technical knowledge, Lack of decision-making, and Lack of market accessibility.