Geography and Environment

Introduction

Economic activities refer to what people do to get money. Agriculture is one of the main economic activities people carry out in Rwanda. Other activities are trade, forestry, mining and fishing.

Agriculture involves crop farming and animal keeping. It generates more than 70% of the country’s export revenues. Many people are employed in the agricultural sector.

The size and quality of agricultural land determines the type of agriculture people practise. The large farms or plantations are used for growing crops for sale. Such crops are sugarcane, tea and coffee. On small parcels of land, a variety of crops is grown and animals are kept mainly for home needs. This is referred to as mixed farming.

Activity 15.1

Carry out a field study around the school to find out:

        •  The type of crops people grow

        •  The type of animals people keep

        •  The average size of their farm

        •  The source of the water they use on their farms

Present your findings to the class for discussion.

15.1 Types of agricultural systems in Rwanda

From Activity 15.1 above, you will discover that people practice different types of agriculture. These systems include:

          •  Subsistence farming

          •  Commercial farming

          •  Irrigation farming

15.1.1 Subsistence farming

Activity 15.2

Some people around your school or home plant some crops to be eaten at home.In your notebook, indicate products that are for sale, home consumption or both.For the crops that are for home consumption, classify them as follows:

Farmers who grow crops for home consumption practice subsistence farming. This is practiced by a majority of farmers in Rwanda. This is a system of farming in which the farmer grows enough food to feed themselves and their families. The plots of land are small. These farmers often store their produce until the next harvest. Farmers use simple tools. Where facilities like electricity and irrigation are available, farming has improved. The main food crop is bananas. Other crops are sweet potatoes, peas and beans, cassava, melons, sorghum and peanuts. Subsistence farming also includes keeping of domestic animals such as cattle and goats to supplement the crops.

15.1.2 Commercial farming

This is where farmers grow crops or raise animal for sale. Farmers sell the crops and animal products to earn income. Crops grown on large scale for sale are called cash crops. They include coffee and tea. In this system, the machinery substitutes for the labour of humans and animals. Unlike subsistence farming, some of the crops are grown on large scale and animals too are kept in ranches. This provides a supply of the products to industries for processing.

Read Further!

Carry out a research from the Internet, textbooks or other geographical documents to get the characteristics of commercial agriculture in Rwanda. Present your findings to the class.

15.1.3 Irrigation farming

In areas that receive unreliable rainfall, irrigation farming is practised. Irrigation refers to the application of water to the land or soil. It is used to help in the growing of crops during periods of inadequate rainfall.

Irrigation is important because farmers increase agricultural productivity through allowing several cropping and reducing effects weather changes.

Activity 15.3

Find out in groups of five the types of crops grown under irrigation in Rwanda. Identify the areas where this type of farming takes place. For each area, name the source of water.

15.2 Major crops produced in Rwanda

Generally, Rwanda has favorable climatic conditions. The fertile soils in the country allow cultivation of a wide range of crops.

The crops grown in Rwanda are mainly food crops and cash crops.The main food crops include maize, beans, rice, bananas, Irish potatoes, sweet potatoes, cassava, groundnuts, sorghum and beans. Bananas that are grown are cooked, eaten when ripe or used in making beer.Vegetables such as onions, cabbages and eggplants are also widely grown.

The main cash crops grown in Rwanda are tea and coffee. Together, tea and coffee make up a bigger percentage of the country’s agricultural exports.

Barley for beer and green beans are also grown as cash crops. Two-thirds of Rwanda’s farmers grow beans. In the marshier areas, rice is becoming important.

15.3 Livestock farming

Livestock faming is the keeping of animals. Animals kept on a larger scale are mainly for sale. Those kept on a small scale are usually meant for domestic consumption.

There are two types of livestock farming. These are:

      a)  Traditional (or subsistence) livestock farming

      b)  Commercial livestock farming

15.3.1 Traditional (or subsistence) livestock farming

Traditional (or subsistence) livestock farming is where farmers keep the livestock primarily for family consumption. Products include eggs, milk, meat and honey.

15.3.2 Commercial livestock farming

In commercial livestock farming, products are mainly for sale.

Activity 15.4

Study the photographs of livestock provided.

   1.  In groups,discuss the characteristic of each type of farming.

   2.  Write the similarities and differences in the types of farming shown.

   3.  Outline the advantages and disadvantages of each type of farming.

Livestock farming is further divided into ranching and dairy farming.

15.3.3 Ranching

Ranching is a method of farming where livestock is reared in extensive farms.

15.3.4 Dairy farming

Dairy farming on the other hand is a type of farming where the cattle are reared for milk production.

Characteristics of ranching and dairy farming

Characteristics of dairy farming

•  Animals are kept mainly for production of milk.

•  It can be in small or large scale.

• Most small scale dairy farmers practice zero grazing where animals are kept in an enclosure and provided with feeds and water.

•  Large scale dairy farming involves keeping animals in open grazing fields divided into paddocks.

•  The main dairy cattle breeds kept are Friesian, Jersey, Ayrshire and Guernsey.

•  Dairy farming is carried out in areas that have good transport facilities and ready market for the milk.

•  Farmers grow fodder crops and also use manufactured feeds to boost milk production.

•  Reproduction is facilitated through artificial insemination.

•  Animals are well cared for to avoid attacks by parasites and disease.

Characteristics of ranching

•  Animals are kept mainly for production of meat and for sale.

•  Animals graze on natural pastures in the ranches.

•  The ranches are supplied with sufficient water.

•  The ranches are divided into paddocks to ensure availability of pasture throughout.

•  The animals are protected against diseases through spraying or dipping in chemicals to remove ticks and other parasites that could cause diseases.

•  Cross breeding is done to improve the quality of the animals.

15.4 Problems and solutions of agriculture in Rwanda

(i) Problems facing dairy farming in Rwanda

Activity 15.5

In groups, discuss how each of the following factors hinder the development of dairy farming in Rwanda.

      •  Climate

      •  Size of the population

      •  Pest and diseases

      •   Market

Present your findings for class discussion.

Factors that hinder the development of dairy farming in Rwanda are:

a)  Frequent droughts, which reduce pasture and water for the cattle.

b)  Animals are at times attacked and killed by diseases such as Nagana which is transmitted by tsetse flies.

c)  The exotic breeds reared are expensive to keep particularly during the dry season.

d)  Ranching requires skilled labourers that may not be readily available.

(ii) Ways of improving livestock farming in Rwanda

Activity 15.6

In groups, discuss:

  1.  The meaning of value addition in livestock rearing.

  2.  How keeping of one type of livestock can be a way of improving livestock farming in Rwanda.

The following are some of the ways livestock farming in Rwanda is being improved.

a) The government has made effort to improve livestock farming. One way of improving livestock farming is by educating farmers on better ways of taking care of livestock.

b) Demonstration farms have been established to train farmers on modern methods of livestock farming. Other support services include teaching farmers how to control livestock diseases. In addition, they are taught how to get money from the government, banks or cooperatives to support their farming.

c) Effort has been made to cross-breed local animals with imported breeds. This is to produce quality products for the market. The government has also constructed valley dams and boreholes to reduce water shortages. Farmers are encouraged to grow alternative feeds with high nutritive value for the livestock.

d) To promote commercial livestock farming, farmers have been educated on adding value to products to gain higher profits.

e) Better storage facilities have also been established.

f) Transport and communication networks are always being improved and have also been expanded to enable quick transportation of products to the market.

(iii)  Keeping of small animals

Activity 15.7

In pairs, identify small animals that are kept in most homes in Rwanda.

List the products obtained from these small animals.

Small animals that are commonly kept in homes include pigs, goats, sheep, rabbits, chicken and bees. The keeping of small animals is increasingly being taken up by farmers. This is because they are cheaper to keep. They also provide a quick source of income.

Factors affecting the keeping of small animals

a)  Favourable climate: Livestock such as goats, hens, pigs and rabbits survive in a wide range of climate.

b) Relief: Areas of high relief such as those in the western side of the country favour the rearing of such animals as pigs. The drier areas on the eastern side of the country favour bee keeping.

c)  Government policy: The government has undertaken a number of steps to support the rearing of small animals in Rwanda. These include facilitating extension services, providing subsidised farm inputs and ensuring good roads for transport of animal products.

d)  Traditions of the people: Many Rwandans have always had one or more animals kept at home.

e)  Land: As population increases, the available land for agriculture keeps on shrinking. This has forced many people never to the keeping of small animals.

f)  Availability of pasture: Small animals need a small piece of land for pasture. Some of them survive on the leftovers at home.

Activity 15.8

In groups:

   a) Explain how the following factors have affected livestock keeping in 5wanda:‡

            Climate‡

            Government policy‡

            Cultural beliefs

            ‡Availability of land

b) Give reasons why agriculture is important to the economy of Rwanda.

Problems and solutions of agriculture in Rwanda

The following table shows how some of the problems facing agriculture in Rwanda can be solved.

15.5 Agriculture modernisation

Activity 15.9

Fieldwork

1. Visit a nearby farm. Observe and record the following:

2. Write a paragraph explaining if the type of agriculture you observed is modern of traditional.

Present your findings for discussion.

What is modernising agriculture?

Activity 15.10

Be smart, build your knowledge!

Read the following words.Using the dictionary and Internet Sources,get the meaning of the following terms as used in agriculture. Write the meanings in your notebook.

Soil weakening, poverty, food security, malnourishment, food shortage, food reserves, nutritious foods, extension services, early warning, irrigation, soil nutrients, weather changes, trade, family income.

Most people in Rwanda depend on agriculture. Despite agriculture being the main source of income to many,some farmers still practice traditional subsistence farming.This method is unproductive,and dependents on family labour.Food shortages and malnutrition in some areas is worsened by adverse weather changes. Such practices can neither sustain the national food and nutritional requirements,nor its economy.

15.5.1 Measures put in place by the government to modernise agriculture

These include:

a) Combining and reorganising the fragmented pieces of land into productive units.

b)  Using modern machinery and equipment during land preparation. There are machines and equipment that can also be used during the growing period of the crops. Generally, use of farm equipment and machinery reduces dependence on human labour. For instance, tractors are used on large farms in areas such as Nyagatare and Kayonza.

c)  Planting certified seeds and using cuttings and plant tissues that are high yielding varieties.

d)  Planting drought resistant varieties of crops to minimise chances of crop failure.

e)  Engaging in commercial farming as opposed to subsistence farming.

f)  Using better soil management practices such as adding manure or using plant remains as a mulch to conserve soil nutrients and moisture.

g)  Using natural means, pesticides and fungicides to control crop and animal diseases.

h)  Improving transport and communication to help people access markets faster.

i)  Reducing reliance on rain-fed agriculture to farm in all seasons. This is by storing water in dams and harvesting rain water for use during the dry season.

j)  Increasing investments and financial services to the farmer.

15.5.2 Factors favouring implementation of modernised agriculture

• The government supports the implementation of agricultural modernisation by:

        -  Training farmers regularly on agricultural management, value addition and entrepreneurial skills.

       -  Working with private investors to fund agricultural enterprises.

       -  Improving the spread of information on agricultural commodities and their prices through low cost methods such as the use of mobile services.

      -  Supplying inputs to farmers such as fertilisers and improved seeds, and farm equipment at subsidised prices.

      -  The government has employed more extension workers to assist farmers.

      -  Training farmers on the best practices from traditional agriculture to enhance modernised agriculture.

• The increase of population in Rwanda has created a ready market for agricultural commodities.

• There has been improved information on changes in weather.

• Research on agriculture has been intensified and results shared with farmers.

• Currently, farmers can get loans and financial advice through cooperatives.

Activity 15.11

In groups:

   1. Describe the reasons for modernisation of agriculture in Rwanda.

   2. Explain the advantages and disadvantages for modernisation of agriculture in Rwanda.

Write down the findings for class presentation. Engage in a question and answer session.

15.5.3 Advantages of modernised agriculture

The advantages of modernised agriculture are:

(i)  Communities grow crops, rear animal and engage in business to build better lives.

(ii)  The high yields from different types of farming has led to an increased production of food for all people.

(iii)  There is increased employment opportunities especially in the rural areas.

(iv)  Women and the young people make up a high percentage of population in rural areas. They supply a significant part of labour to the various forms of agriculture. Modern agriculture has created commercial opportunities for them. By earning income, poverty is reduced.

(v)  Modern agriculture has increased the production of raw materials for industries.

(vi)  Modern transport and storage facilities helps to reduce wastage.

(vii)  The country earn foreign exchage from the export of agricultural commodities.

15.5.4 Disadvantages of modernised agriculture

There are several disadvantages of modernised agriculture. Some of these are:

•  The use of chemical fertiliser has negatively affected the environment. For example, during the rainy season, excess fertilisers are washed down from farmlands into water bodies such as lakes. This leads to the growth of weeds in these water sources.

•  The use of pesticides kills some useful insects.

•  Modern farming requires a lot of water particularly to irrigate the land. This may affect the availability of water for other uses.

•  The use of certified seeds and new animal breeds may in the long run cause a decline in the original (traditional) plants and animal species.

•  A lot of funds are required to support modern agriculture.•Intensive commercial farming and monoculture in large plantations causes impoverishment of soil.

15.6 Impact of agriculture on sustainable development of Rwanda

Sustainable development refers to development that meets the needs of the present without affecting the ability of future generations to meet their own. In agriculture, farming systems that are consistently productive and useful to the society over a long time are said to be sustainable. Such farming systems use environmentally appropriate practices that conserve the soil. The produce is able to support the population and contribute meaningfully to the income at household level. This is also beneficial to the government as it is a source of revenue.

Agriculture is important in the development of Rwanda because of the following reasons:

•  The country is able to provide adequate food for the people. It also enhances the quality of life for farmers and the society as a whole.

•  Agriculture helps to make the most efficient use of non-renewable resources such as soil and other on-farm resources.

•  The revenues enables the government to provide education, primary health and clean water services to its citizens.

Activity 15.12

In groups:

Discuss other reasons why agriculture is important in the sustainable development of Rwanda.

Record your findings for class presentation.

15.7 The advantages and disadvantages of plantation farming in Rwanda

Plantation farming refers to large scale growing of a single crop purposely for sale. This is called monoculture. In this type of farming,scientific methods are used. Most of the crops grown on plantation in Rwanda are perennial crops such as tea and coffee. With the temperate climate and plentiful rain and sunshine, the slopes are perfect for growing tea. Together, tea and coffee make up a large percentage of the country’s agricultural exports. Barley for beer and green beans are also grown as cash crops.

However, the steep slopes and acidic soils of Rwanda’s highland areas make them unsuitable for growing food crops. Two thirds of Rwanda’s farmers grow beans. In the marshier areas, rice and sugarcane are widely grown.

Activity 15.13

In groups of five, explain the advantages and disadvantages of cash crops growing in Rwanda.

Advantages of plantation agriculture

There are several advantages of plantation agriculture. Some of the advantages are:

a)  With the high level of mechanisation, productivity is also high.

b)  The specialisation in production process leads to high quality products.

c)  Plantations produce cash crops which provide export earnings.

d)  Plantation agriculture employs a large number of labourers, both skilled and semi-skilled.

e)  Plantation farming encourages industries that process the agricultural raw materials.

f)  Plantation agriculture provides market for agricultural machinery.

g)  On some plantations, infrastructure such as roads, water supply and electricity have developed. Plantation owners may also provide schools, houses and hospitals for the workers.

h)  Some plantations are research and demonstration centres for a wide range of crops.

Disadvantages plantation agriculture

• Plantation agriculture requires heavy investment to grow, process and transport the crop to the market. Therefore, it is expensive to start and maintain.

• The cash crops use up land that could grow food for the local population.

• Natural disasters such as drought, floods, pests and crop diseases may affect the crops leading to heavy looses.

• Monoculture exhausts the soil if it is not well managed.

• Plantations are often affected by fluctuation of prices on the world market.

END OF UNIT REVISION EXERCISE

1.  Explain the meaning of “commercial livestock farming.”

2.  Give reasons why farmers in Rwanda should keep small animals at home.

3.  Discuss the contributions of livestock farming in Rwanda.

4.  Explain the major characteristics of dairy farming in Rwanda.

5.  Describe the problems affecting cattle keepers in Rwanda and give the solutions to these problems.

6.  Explain the meaning of the term “agriculture modernisation.”

7.  Suggest the ways of transforming agricultural practices in Rwanda.