Impacts of climate-smart agroforestry practices on income and food security in two Rwandan agroecosystems
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Date
2025
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Elservier
Abstract
Climate-smart agroforestry (CSAF) practices offer a sustainable way to improve soil health, increase
farm productivity, enhance biodiversity, and boost farmers’ well-being in low-income
countries. This study assessed the effects of CSAF on income and food security among 381
farmer households in two contrasting Rwandan agroecosystems. Data were collected through
farm-level interviews and analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multivariate
latent variable regression. Results revealed that CSAF practices increased crop yield,
improved food security, and diversified income sources. Livestock contributed the highest income,
while tree products contributed the least. Smallholder farms (<1 ha) reported the highest
profits, averaging Rwf 68,975,000 (US$ 52,175.46). Food security was higher in Bugesera (46.7
%) than in Rulindo (42.5 %). Among CSAF practices, shelterbelts and multipurpose trees
significantly influenced income and profit, while silvopasture enhanced food security. Despite
these findings, latent variables – factors related to farmers’ attitudes towards adopting CSAF
practices – have a small impact (if any) on well-being outcomes. This is important information for
policymakers, as it signals the extension education needed for the farmers’ understanding of the
influence of CSAF adoption on improved household wellbeing. Moreover, these results suggest
that CSAF practices can lead to increased income, enhanced food security, and greater resilience
to climate change. This information can inform policies and guide agricultural researchers in
developing and promoting more effective interventions, ultimately leading to wider adoption of
CSAF.
Description
Journal Article
Keywords
Climate-smart agroforestry, Sustainable farming, Income, Food security, Agroecosystems, Rwanda