ABSTRACT

Maize is one of the main staple food crops grown in Rwanda that forms a significant part of household consumption. However, maize yields in Rwanda have remained low due to the limited adoption of fertilisers and improved seed varieties. This study aims to analyse factors that influence the timing of adoption of fertilisers and improved seed varieties (i.e., intensive agricultural practices) in Rwanda. The duration analysis approach is applied, providing a statistical method that permits the timing of the adoption event to be explicitly modelled in a dynamic framework. The results highlight the importance of social learning and information acquisition through extension services, media, and a network of fellow farmers in increasing adoption rates for fertilisers and improved maize varieties. Similarly, membership in farmers' associations, access to credit, and risk-loving behaviour positively affect the speed of adoption. Policy insights from the study suggest that strategies for promoting faster adoption should focus on providing information through agricultural extension services, media, and a network of fellow farmers. Additionally, farmers' cooperatives should be given priority as a dissemination pathway that can increase adoption speed for fertilisers and improved maize varieties.

摘要

玉米是卢旺达种植的主要主粮作物之一，占家庭消费的重要部分。但是，由于肥料使用有限和种子品种改良，卢旺达的玉米单产一直很低。这项研究旨在分析影响卢旺达肥料使用时间和改良种子品种（即集约化农业实践）的因素。应用了持续时间分析方法，提供了一种统计方法，该方法允许在动态框架中对收养事件的时间进行显式建模。结果突出了通过推广服务，媒体和农民同伴网络进行社会学习和信息获取对于提高肥料和改良玉米品种的采用率的重要性。同样，加入农民协会，获得信贷以及喜欢冒险的行为会对采用速度产生积极影响。该研究的政策见解表明，促进更快采用的策略应侧重于通过农业推广服务，媒体和农民同伴网络提供信息。此外，应优先考虑农民合作社作为传播途径，可以提高肥料的采用速度和改良的玉米品种。