Analyzing Various Factors Affecting Farmers’ Willingness to Adopt Soil Erosion Control Measures in the Sebeya Catchment, Rwanda

Abstract

Soil erosion is a worldwide environmental problem leading to low agricultural productivity and water quality degradation. Improving soil erosion control measures is essential. This study reports the results of a survey of 75 farmers, using structured interviews, field observations, and focus groups to analyze farmers’ perceptions concerning current and future efforts to adopt Soil Erosion Control (SEC) measures in the Sebeya catchment located in the Western Province of Rwanda. Various factors influencing farmers’ perceptions of soil erosion causes, effects, and willingness to adopt SEC measures were analyzed using descriptive statistics and SPSS (Version 20), including t-tests, chi-square tests, and a binary logistic regression model. Chi-square test results indicate that gender, farmer age, land ownership, farmland size, social media access, and credit access were strongly associated (p < 0.05) with the adoption of SEC measures, while marital status and education were not. A binary logistic regression model showed that among farmers’ socioeconomic characteristics, farming experience (B = 0.749; p = 0.020) and access to socio media (B = 2.107; p = 0.027) were positively correlated, while age (B = −0.642; p = 0.035) and gender (B = −2.034; p = 0.032) were negatively correlated (p < 0.05) with the adoption of SEC measures. In order to mitigate high soil erosion rates and increase food production, there is a need for the government to support farmers, and train them. A highly skilled technical team should be mobilized to assist in implementing SEC measures in the Sebeya catchment.