FARMERS PERCEPTIONS OF RESOURCE PROBLEMS AND ADOPTION OF CONSERVATION PRACTICES IN A DENSELY POPULATED AREA

Population growth in Africa has had a significant effect on per capita food production over the past two decades. High population growth rates and the resulting increase in population density have also affected the environment. Pressure on farmland has led to deforestation, shortened fallow, decreased farm size and erosion. These trends are examined specifically for Rwanda and other selected nations. This paper presents findings from a series of Sondeo discussions in a high density area of Rwanda to illustrate how farmers view local soil and land fertility problems, in terms of their causes, solutions and adaptations. A second set of data collected from a survey of 448 farmers in the same area is used to examine their perceptions of erosion and soil fertility conditions on their farms, as well as their adoption of several recommended conservation practices. The results from the Sondeo show that farmers' assessments of problems are in agreement with what outside observers have identified for the area. Farmers propose a wide rage of adaptations and solutions for addressing the problems. In the survey portion of the larger study a majority of farmers report soil erosion and reduced soil fertility problems on at least some of their fields, and a decrease in use of fallow. In terms of adopting certain recommended conservation practices farmers have adopted tall grasses and terraces on some plots, while other practices are not as widely adopted. The discussion of the findings focuses on several limiting factors which inhibit more extensive use of conservation practices. There is a final discussion of alternative adaptations farmers can make in a setting with high population growth and density.