Evaluating the Effects of Climate-Smart Agricultural Techniques on Food Security in Rwanda, Case of Nyagatare District

Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) is widely regarded as an important technique for tackling climate change concerns while maintaining food security. This study assessed the effects of climate-smart agriculture on food security in Nyagatare District, Rwanda, a region vulnerable to climate variability and highly dependent on agriculture. The research focused on household farmers, chosen through stratified random sampling from 160,435 households, with additional interviews conducted with 5 local leaders and 15 agricultural officers. Data were collected using structured questionnaires, key informant interviews, focus group discussions and field observations. A mixed-methods approach incorporating both quantitative and qualitative data was used to assess the effectiveness of climate-smart agriculture practices on agricultural productivity, food status, relationship between climate-smart agriculture practices and food security. Quantitative data were analyzed with statistical methods such as SPSS software version 30.0 and Microsoft Excel, while qualitative data were examined through thematic analysis. The study evaluated the adoption and effectiveness of specific climate-smart agriculture techniques, including crop rotation, agroforestry, organic fertilization, water harvesting, drought-resistant seeds, and conservation tillage. Findings revealed high adoption and positive perception of crop rotation (mean = 4.34), agroforestry (mean = 4.04), and organic fertilizers and composting (mean = 4.58). Conversely, water harvesting (mean = 1.60) and drought-resistant seeds (mean = 1.76) were less adopted. A statistically significant positive correlation (r = 0.152, p = 0.002) was found between CSA adoption and food security, indicating that while the impact is modest, climate-smart agriculture practices contribute to improved food outcomes. The study concludes that climate-smart agriculture enhances food security in Nyagatare District. Keywords: Adaptation, Agro-ecology, Agroforestry, Climate change, Climate-smart agriculture, Drought, Food security, Livelihoods, Rwanda.