Impacts of climate-smart agroforestry practices on income and food security in two Rwandan agroecosystems

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.