Improving the existing farming systems toward a climate smart agriculture in Musanze district of Rwanda

From the older mixed intercropping which has not been able to produce higher yields, to the monoculture system currently promoted by the government of Rwanda and which has helped to increase the yield of the prioritized crops, agriculture production has continued to be challenged by climate chang...

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Autor principal: Uzamukunda, Stephanie
Formato: H2
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: SLU/Dept. of People and Society 2015
Materias:
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author Uzamukunda, Stephanie
author_browse Uzamukunda, Stephanie
author_facet Uzamukunda, Stephanie
author_sort Uzamukunda, Stephanie
collection Epsilon Archive for Student Projects
description From the older mixed intercropping which has not been able to produce higher yields, to the monoculture system currently promoted by the government of Rwanda and which has helped to increase the yield of the prioritized crops, agriculture production has continued to be challenged by climate change where droughts, heavy rains, severe soil erosions, strong winds, pests and diseases have reduced significantly the production in some of the affected areas. It is for this reason that this review was done particularly on Musanze district, an areas which is considered as the food basket of Rwanda for its high agricultural production, but which is highly affected by torrential rains from the Volcano National Park, followed by floods and landslides, which in turn causes severe crop destruction and soil erosion; in order to help to suggest another farming system which can help to lead to a climate-smart agriculture. While the population continues to grow, putting much pressure on land, both systems have failed to adapt to climate change in order to satisfy food needs with low environmental damages, and the future climate change scenarios predict that the situation may become worse in the coming decades. That is why a complex mixed cropping system is suggested in Musanze district in order to diversify food products hence leading to food security, help to control the soil erosion, a major challenging issue faced by farmers and reduce other socioeconomic and environmental damages resulting from heavy rains, floods and landslides. This study suggests two options of mixed cropping: (1) strip cropping inside the farm together with trees/shrubs and/or anti-erosive crops contouring the farm; or (2) row intercropping inside the farm with trees/shrubs and/or anti-erosive crops contouring the farm. Its implementation will help to reach food security, to adapt to climate change while trying to reduce greenhouse gas emission. For this reason, it requires governmental commitment towards farmers’ needs and involving them in decision making, but also to change from the only economic focus to the other aspects of sustainability: social and environment in order to have enjoyable life both for current and the future generations.
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spelling RepoSLU85782015-10-26T16:25:42Z Improving the existing farming systems toward a climate smart agriculture in Musanze district of Rwanda Förbättring av befintliga jordbrukssystem mot ett klimatsmart jordbruk i Musanze-distriktet Rwanda Uzamukunda, Stephanie climate change climate-smart agriculture future scenario farming systems complex mixed cropping sustainability imihigo Musanze district Rwanda From the older mixed intercropping which has not been able to produce higher yields, to the monoculture system currently promoted by the government of Rwanda and which has helped to increase the yield of the prioritized crops, agriculture production has continued to be challenged by climate change where droughts, heavy rains, severe soil erosions, strong winds, pests and diseases have reduced significantly the production in some of the affected areas. It is for this reason that this review was done particularly on Musanze district, an areas which is considered as the food basket of Rwanda for its high agricultural production, but which is highly affected by torrential rains from the Volcano National Park, followed by floods and landslides, which in turn causes severe crop destruction and soil erosion; in order to help to suggest another farming system which can help to lead to a climate-smart agriculture. While the population continues to grow, putting much pressure on land, both systems have failed to adapt to climate change in order to satisfy food needs with low environmental damages, and the future climate change scenarios predict that the situation may become worse in the coming decades. That is why a complex mixed cropping system is suggested in Musanze district in order to diversify food products hence leading to food security, help to control the soil erosion, a major challenging issue faced by farmers and reduce other socioeconomic and environmental damages resulting from heavy rains, floods and landslides. This study suggests two options of mixed cropping: (1) strip cropping inside the farm together with trees/shrubs and/or anti-erosive crops contouring the farm; or (2) row intercropping inside the farm with trees/shrubs and/or anti-erosive crops contouring the farm. Its implementation will help to reach food security, to adapt to climate change while trying to reduce greenhouse gas emission. For this reason, it requires governmental commitment towards farmers’ needs and involving them in decision making, but also to change from the only economic focus to the other aspects of sustainability: social and environment in order to have enjoyable life both for current and the future generations. SLU/Dept. of People and Society 2015 H2 eng https://stud.epsilon.slu.se/8578/
spellingShingle climate change
climate-smart agriculture
future scenario
farming systems
complex mixed cropping
sustainability
imihigo
Musanze district
Rwanda
Uzamukunda, Stephanie
Improving the existing farming systems toward a climate smart agriculture in Musanze district of Rwanda
title Improving the existing farming systems toward a climate smart agriculture in Musanze district of Rwanda
title_full Improving the existing farming systems toward a climate smart agriculture in Musanze district of Rwanda
title_fullStr Improving the existing farming systems toward a climate smart agriculture in Musanze district of Rwanda
title_full_unstemmed Improving the existing farming systems toward a climate smart agriculture in Musanze district of Rwanda
title_short Improving the existing farming systems toward a climate smart agriculture in Musanze district of Rwanda
title_sort improving the existing farming systems toward a climate smart agriculture in musanze district of rwanda
topic climate change
climate-smart agriculture
future scenario
farming systems
complex mixed cropping
sustainability
imihigo
Musanze district
Rwanda