Effect of Financial Inclusion on Agricultural Farm Performance in Rwanda: “ A case study of COMSS cooperative.”

Abstract

Financial inclusion services are an important elements in agricultural farming operations. It makes it possible for producers to cover the cash requirements resulting from the agricultural industry’s unique production cycle, which typically occupies several months and generates very little cash income while necessitating spending money for materials, input purchases, and consumption. Access to financial services is one of several concerns that have an influence on smallholder farmers. Access to adequate, appropriate, and reasonably priced formal financial services for smallholder farmers, however, is a problem that frequently arises in Rwanda. Many rural residents continue to be practically cut off from the financial services required to maintain their survival and enhance agricultural farm performance . The general objective of the research was to find out how financial inclusion affected the performance of the agricultural farms in Muyumbu and Masaka sector . The study was additionally motivated by three specific objectives:to determine the effect of access of microcredit on the performance of the agricultural farm,to examine the effect of access of microsaving on the performance of the agricultural farm,to determine the effect of access of mobile money services on the performance agricultural farm . The target population was the smallholder rice farmers in Muyumbu and Masaka sector.To attain these objectives simple random sampling was employed .The information was given by 186 smallholder rice farmers in Muhazi and Masaka sector.A researcher employed quantitative method for data collection where structured questionnaires instrument was used, descriptive as well as correlative research design were used .Descriptive and inferencial statistics were applied for data analysis. Descriptive statistics employed were frequencies ,standard deviation, and mean. Correlation and multiple regression model were employed for inferencial statistics to show the link among variables ,and SPSS version 20 were also utilized for analysis of data.the findings were presented using tables. The results of this research demonstrated that there is a significant effect and positive contribution of access of microcredit ,microsaving and mobile money services on the performance of the agricultural farm in Rwanda as shown by the coefficient of.609*, which is regarded as a high and positive correlation according to the table’s Pearson correlation .The null hypotheses that financial inclusion has no significant effect on the agricultural farm performance was rejected. The study recommends that MFI should expand financial inclusion through access of microcredit, microsaving and mobile money services which significantly uplift agricultural farm performance. The researcher also suggests that different MFIs and government agencies should provide financial training as well as awareness programs for small-scale farmers on how to access microsavings, microcredit, and mobile money services, MFI should Explore the potential for linking microsavings programs with microcredit opportunities. This can create a holistic approach to financial inclusion, allowing farmers to not only save but also access credit when needed for investments in their agricultural activities.