Analyzing Key Determinants of Climate Adaptation Strategies Among Farmers: A Case Study of Farmers in Rusizi District, Rwanda

초록

This study investigates the factors influencing farmers' adoption of multiple-crop cultivation as a climate change adaptation strategy in Rusizi District, Rwanda. Survey data were collected from 215 farmers, with 51.2% being female and 48.8% male. Most farmers (72.6%) had completed primary education, and the majority had 11–20 years of farming experience. Farmers widely recognized the impacts of climate change, with 82.8% reporting decreased rainfall and 87% experiencing prolonged dry seasons. Adaptation strategies such as agroforestry (81.4%), land expansion (80.5%), and crop rotation (68.8%) were prevalent, whereas early planting (14.4%) and soil and water conservation (8.4%) were less commonly adopted. Logistic regression analysis revealed that exposure to severe drought (Exp(B) = 18.0) was strongly associated with the adoption of multiple-crop cultivation, whereas agricultural income (Exp(B) = 1.0) had minimal effects. These findings highlight the importance of education, direct experiences with climate stress, and targeted interventions to promote sustainable adaptation practices in smallholder farming communities.

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