Contribution of Sustainable Land Management Practices to Household Income among Smallholder Farmers in Rwanda: Evidence from Abizeranye and Abanyamurava Kinyinya Cooperatives, Kayonza District

Abstract

This study assessed how sustainable land management (SLM) practices contribute to household income among smallholder farmers who are members of the Abizeranye and Abanyamurava Kinyinya cooperatives in Kayonza District, Rwanda. The study aimed to identify the major SLM practices adopted by farmers, assess income levels, and examine the relationship between SLM practices and household income. A mixed-methods cross-sectional design was employed. Data were collected from 305 respondents selected through stratified random sampling from a population of 1,284 cooperative members. The analysis used descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and multiple linear regression. Findings revealed high adoption of SLM practices, including agroforestry, crop rotation, organic fertilizer application, terracing, and mulching. The results further showed that SLM practices positively contributed to household income by increasing agricultural productivity, diversifying income, accumulating assets, and reducing household expenditures. Multiple regression analysis indicated that SLM practices significantly influenced household income and explained 54.9% of the variation in income among respondents. The study concludes that SLM practices play a vital role in enhancing household income and livelihood resilience among smallholder farmers. It recommends strengthening agricultural extension services, promoting integrated SLM adoption, and enhancing cooperative support mechanisms to sustain and expand the economic benefits of SLM practices.