Farmers’ knowledge, attitude, and motivation for adoption of climate-smart agroforestry in two contrasting agroecosystems of Rwanda

Abstract

Globally, the experiences show that climate-smart agroforestry (CSAF) can contribute to sustainable agricultural growth and rural transformation while tackling climate change. This study evaluated the interplay between farmers’ knowledge, attitude, and motivation to adopt CSAF. The study used data from 381 farmers surveyed in Bugesera and Rulindo regions, Rwanda. Bugesera, in the semi-arid savannah lowlands, and Rulindo, in the temperate central highlands, were purposively selected for their distinct physiographic features. A questionnaire was used to collect the data and descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and binomial logistic regression were performed for data analysis. The results from the correlation analysis showed that various revealed factors, including gender, civil status, education, household size, household poverty level (ubudehe), farm size, farmers’ experience in CSAF, ownership of radio and mobile phone, livestock herd size, farm-river distance, training, and extension visits, influenced farmers’ knowledge in adopting CSAF. The most significant positive correlation was found between owning a mobile phone and farmers’ knowledge, while the weakest positive correlation existed between farmers’ gender and their knowledge of CSAF. These factors equally affected farmers’ attitudes, except for statistically insignificant gender. The most significant positive correlation was between owning a mobile phone and farmers’ attitudes, while the weakest was between extension visits and farmers’ attitudes towards CSAF. Further, results revealed a positively significant relationship between the farmers’ ages and their motivation to adopt CSAF. Additionally, the binomial logit regression analysis showed that farmers knowledgeable with CSAF were 2.5 times more likely to practice CSAF than farmers without such knowledge. Moreover, being motivated by CSAF benefits increased the likelihood of adopting CSAF by 0.6 times compared to unmotivated farmers. By filling the gap in understanding farmers’ knowledge, attitudes, and motivations toward CSAF adoption, this study contributes to advancing sustainable agricultural practices in Rwanda. It provides a blueprint for similar initiatives elsewhere.