IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/forpol/v165y2024ics1389934124001060.html

Does agroforestry contribute to household food security? A micro-perspective from southern Rwanda

Author

Listed:
  • Ngango, Jules
  • Musabanganji, Edouard
  • Maniriho, Aristide
  • Nkikabahizi, Ferdinand
  • Mukamuhire, Anitha
  • Ng'ombe, John N.

Abstract

It is widely recognized that hunger impacts roughly one-third of the global populace, with over one-third of those suffering from undernourishment concentrated in Africa. Agroforestry has emerged as a promising soil fertility improvement technology to address these food security challenges. This study utilizes an endogenous switching regression model, complemented with coarsened exact matching, to ascertain the effects of adopting agroforestry on household food security. We used data from a sample of 615 farms in Southern Rwanda. The findings indicate that the main determinants of agroforestry adoption include secure land tenure, membership in cooperatives, access to credit, household size, and farmers' awareness of agroforestry practices. Findings highlight the substantial contributions of agroforestry to food security, with adopters experiencing 19.81 percentage points higher food consumption scores compared to non-adopters. Moreover, the results reveal potential benefits for non-adopters through agroforestry adoption, thereby suggesting that even individuals who do not currently engage in agroforestry could enhance their food security by considering adoption. These insights emphasize the long-term potential of promoting agroforestry for current and prospective adopters. Policies reinforcing land security, supporting cooperatives, providing accessible credit, and promoting farmer sensitization are crucial for encouraging agroforestry adoption and improving food security. By identifying key determinants and quantifying impacts, this study offers targeted guidance for interventions that leverage agroforestry as a sustainable solution to enhance household food security.

Suggested Citation

  • Ngango, Jules & Musabanganji, Edouard & Maniriho, Aristide & Nkikabahizi, Ferdinand & Mukamuhire, Anitha & Ng'ombe, John N., 2024. "Does agroforestry contribute to household food security? A micro-perspective from southern Rwanda," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 165(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:forpol:v:165:y:2024:i:c:s1389934124001060
    DOI: 10.1016/j.forpol.2024.103252
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1389934124001060
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.forpol.2024.103252?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Kiwanuka-Lubinda, Rebecca N. & Ng’ombe, John N. & Machethe, Charles, 2021. "Impacts of interlocked contractual arrangements on dairy farmers’ welfare in Zambia: a robust Bayesian instrumental variable analysis," Agrekon, Agricultural Economics Association of South Africa (AEASA), vol. 60(01), February.
    2. Wencong Lu & Kwabena Nyarko Addai & John N. Ng’ombe, 2021. "Does the use of multiple agricultural technologies affect household welfare? Evidence from Northern Ghana," Agrekon, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 60(4), pages 370-387, October.
    3. Kim, Sung-Yong & Nayga, Rodolfo M., Jr. & Capps, Oral, Jr., 2000. "The Effect Of Food Label Use On Nutrient Intakes: An Endogenous Switching Regression Analysis," Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Western Agricultural Economics Association, vol. 25(01), pages 1-17, July.
    4. Ngango, Jules & Hong, Seungjee, 2021. "Impacts of land tenure security on yield and technical efficiency of maize farmers in Rwanda," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 107(C).
    5. Ellen Johnson & Anne Marie Thow & Nicholas Nisbett, 2023. "Opportunities to strengthen trade policy for food and nutrition security: an analysis of two agricultural trade policy decisions," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 15(4), pages 1109-1125, August.
    6. Wim Marivoet & Elodie Becquey & Bjorn Campenhout, 2019. "How well does the Food Consumption Score capture diet quantity, quality and adequacy across regions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)?," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 11(5), pages 1029-1049, October.
    7. Ma, Wanglin & Abdulai, Awudu, 2016. "Does cooperative membership improve household welfare? Evidence from apple farmers in China," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 94-102.
    8. Iacus, Stefano M. & King, Gary & Porro, Giuseppe, 2011. "Multivariate Matching Methods That Are Monotonic Imbalance Bounding," Journal of the American Statistical Association, American Statistical Association, vol. 106(493), pages 345-361.
    9. Kwabena Nyarko Addai & Omphile Temoso & John N. Ng'ombe, 2021. "Participation in farmer organizations and adoption of farming technologies among rice farmers in Ghana," International Journal of Social Economics, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 49(4), pages 529-545, December.
    10. Pia Nilsson, 2019. "The Role of Land Use Consolidation in Improving Crop Yields among Farm Households in Rwanda," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 55(8), pages 1726-1740, August.
    11. Alain Ndoli & Athanase Mukuralinda & Antonius G. T. Schut & Miyuki Iiyama & Jean Damascene Ndayambaje & Jeremias G. Mowo & Ken E. Giller & Frédéric Baudron, 2021. "On-farm trees are a safety net for the poorest households rather than a major contributor to food security in Rwanda," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 13(3), pages 685-699, June.
    12. Christopher Mutungi & Julius Manda & Shiferaw Feleke & Adebayo Abass & Mateete Bekunda & Irmgard Hoschle-Zeledon & Gundula Fischer, 2023. "Adoption and impacts of improved post-harvest technologies on food security and welfare of maize-farming households in Tanzania: a comparative assessment," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 15(4), pages 1007-1023, August.
    13. Salvatore Di Falco & Marcella Veronesi & Mahmud Yesuf, 2011. "Does Adaptation to Climate Change Provide Food Security? A Micro-Perspective from Ethiopia," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 93(3), pages 825-842.
    14. Maren Radeny & Elizaphan J. O. Rao & Maurice Juma Ogada & John W. Recha & Dawit Solomon, 2022. "Impacts of climate-smart crop varieties and livestock breeds on the food security of smallholder farmers in Kenya," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 14(6), pages 1511-1535, December.
    15. King, Gary & Nielsen, Richard, 2019. "Why Propensity Scores Should Not Be Used for Matching," Political Analysis, Cambridge University Press, vol. 27(4), pages 435-454, October.
    16. Pia Nilsson & Sofia Wixe, 2022. "Assessing long-term effects of CAP investment support on indicators of farm performance," European Review of Agricultural Economics, Oxford University Press and the European Agricultural and Applied Economics Publications Foundation, vol. 49(4), pages 760-795.
    17. Kuntashula, Elias & Mungatana, Eric, 2013. "Estimating the causal effect of improved fallows on farmer welfare using robust identification strategies in Chongwe - Zambia," 2013 Fourth International Conference, September 22-25, 2013, Hammamet, Tunisia 160443, African Association of Agricultural Economists (AAAE).
    18. Kotchikpa G. Lawin & Lota D. Tamini, 2019. "Tenure Security and Farm Efficiency Analysis Correcting for Biases from Observed and Unobserved Variables: Evidence from Benin," Journal of Agricultural Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 70(1), pages 116-134, February.
    19. Jeffrey M Wooldridge, 2010. "Econometric Analysis of Cross Section and Panel Data," MIT Press Books, The MIT Press, edition 2, volume 1, number 0262232588, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Durrant, Eleanor & Howson, Pete & Sallu, Susannah M. & Shirima, Deo D. & Lala, Margherita & Milheiras, Sergio G. & Lyimo, Francis & Nyiti, Petro P. & Mwanga, Lilian & Kioko, Esther & Pfeifer, Marion, 2025. "Understanding farmers' attitudes and aspirations for tree-cover restoration in the Kilombero Valley, Tanzania," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 172(C).
    2. Verena Dominique Kouassi & Hongyi Xu & Chukwunonso Philip Bosah & Twum Edwin Ayimadu & Mbula Ngoy Nadege, 2024. "Sustainable Energy Usage for Africa: The Role of Foreign Direct Investment in Green Growth Practices to Mitigate CO 2 Emissions," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-23, August.
    3. Orou Sannou, Ramoudane & Guenther, Edeltraud, 2025. "Exploring the resource nexus between forest-based land restoration and food security: The case of the African great green wall initiative countries," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 151(C).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. repec:ags:cfcp15:344269 is not listed on IDEAS
    2. Ngango, Jules & Musabanganji, Edouard & Maniriho, Aristide & Nkikabahizi, Ferdinand & Mukamuhire, Anitha & Ng’ombe, John N., 2024. "Impact of Agroforestry on Household Food Security: A Micro-Perspective from Southern Rwanda," IAAE 2024 Conference, August 2-7, 2024, New Delhi, India 344269, International Association of Agricultural Economists (IAAE).
    3. Bright O. Asante & Kwabena N. Addai & Stephen Prah & Omphile Temoso & John N. Ng'ombe, 2023. "Hand pollination, mass spraying, and hybrid seedlings: Do these technologies affect the welfare of smallholder cocoa farmers in Ghana?," Review of Development Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 27(4), pages 2271-2300, November.
    4. Arne Henningsen & Guy Low & David Wuepper & Tobias Dalhaus & Hugo Storm & Dagim Belay & Stefan Hirsch, 2024. "Estimating Causal Effects with Observational Data: Guidelines for Agricultural and Applied Economists," IFRO Working Paper 2024/03, University of Copenhagen, Department of Food and Resource Economics.
    5. Jiang, Meishan & Li, Jingrong & Mi, Yunsheng, 2024. "Farmers’ cooperatives and smallholder farmers’ access to credit: Evidence from China," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 92(C).
    6. Tufa, Adane Hirpa & Alene, Arega D. & Manda, Julius & Akinwale, M.G. & Chikoye, David & Feleke, Shiferaw & Wossen, Tesfamicheal & Manyong, Victor, 2019. "The productivity and income effects of adoption of improved soybean varieties and agronomic practices in Malawi," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 124(C), pages 1-1.
    7. Federico Antonioli & Simone Severini & Mauro Vigani, 2023. "Visa for competitiveness: foreign workforce and Italian dairy farms’ performance," European Review of Agricultural Economics, Oxford University Press and the European Agricultural and Applied Economics Publications Foundation, vol. 50(1), pages 115-150.
    8. Ndiaye, Abdou Salam, 2025. "Does access to credit promote the use of modern energy services? Evidence from rural Nigeria," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 148(C).
    9. Ndiaye, Alioune, 2021. "Diversify or Specialise? Impacts of Diversification on Household Welfare and Inequalities in Pastoral Areas in Senegal," 2021 Conference, August 17-31, 2021, Virtual 315898, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    10. Zemba, Cornelius & Prah, Stephen & Ng’ombe, John N., 2025. "Agricultural cooperatives boost food security through input subsidies in rural Zambia," World Development Perspectives, Elsevier, vol. 39(C).
    11. Huma Neupane & Krishna P. Paudel & Qinying He, 2023. "Impact of cooperative membership on market performance of Nepali goat farmers," Annals of Public and Cooperative Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 94(3), pages 805-830, September.
    12. Mohammad Mahbubur Rahman & Jeffry D. Connor, 2022. "Impact of Agricultural Extension Services on Fertilizer Use and Farmers’ Welfare: Evidence from Bangladesh," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-16, July.
    13. Kwabena Nyarko Addai & John N. Ng’ombe & Wencong Lu, 2023. "Disaggregated impacts of off-farm work participation on household vulnerability to food poverty in Ghana," The Journal of Economic Inequality, Springer;Society for the Study of Economic Inequality, vol. 21(1), pages 83-104, March.
    14. Zhu, Xiaoke & Hu, Ruifa & Zhang, Chao & Shi, Guanming, 2021. "Does Internet use improve technical efficiency? Evidence from apple production in China," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 166(C).
    15. Sènakpon Fidèle A. Dedehouanou & Luca Tiberti & Hilaire G. Houeninvo & Djohodo Inès Monwanou, 2019. "Working while studying: Employment premium or penalty for youth in Benin?," Working Papers PMMA 2019-03, PEP-PMMA.
    16. N'dri, Lasme Mathieu & Kakinaka, Makoto, 2020. "Financial inclusion, mobile money, and individual welfare: The case of Burkina Faso," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 44(3).
    17. Charlotte Fabri & Sam Vermeulen & Steven Van Passel & Sergei Schaub, 2024. "Crop diversification and the effect of weather shocks on Italian farmers' income and income risk," Journal of Agricultural Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 75(3), pages 955-980, September.
    18. Chao Zhang & Ruifa Hu, 2022. "Adoption of Direct Seeding, Yield and Fertilizer Use in Rice Production: Empirical Evidence from China," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-15, September.
    19. Mossie, Mengistie & Gerezgiher, Alemseged & Ayalew, Zemen & Nigussie, Zerihun, 2021. "Welfare effects of small-scale farmers' participation in apple and mango value chains in Ethiopia," Agrekon, Agricultural Economics Association of South Africa (AEASA), vol. 60(2), May.
    20. Gavious, Ilanit & Livne, Gilad & Chen, Ester, 2022. "Does tax avoidance increase or decrease when tax enforcement is stronger? Evidence using CSR heterogeneity perspective," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    21. repec:lic:licosd:31912 is not listed on IDEAS
    22. Bühler, Dorothee & Hartje, Rebecca & Ulrike Grote, 2017. "Can household food security predict individual undernutrition? Evidence from Cambodia and Lao PDR," Hannover Economic Papers (HEP) dp-594, Leibniz Universität Hannover, Wirtschaftswissenschaftliche Fakultät.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:forpol:v:165:y:2024:i:c:s1389934124001060. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/forpol .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.