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Farm size, land fragmentation and economic efficiency in southern Rwanda

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  • Bizimana, Claude
  • Nieuwoudt, W. Lieb
  • Ferrer, Stuart R.D.

Abstract

Butare, where this study was conducted, exhibits one of the highest population densities in Rwanda. As a direct result of population growth, most peasants have small fields and land fragmentation is common. The purpose of this article is to examine the effect of land fragmentation on economic efficiency. Regression analysis shows that area operated is primarily determined by the population-land ratio, non-agricultural employment opportunities, ownership certainty and adequate information through agricultural training. Results from a block-recursive regression analysis indicate that the level of net farm income per hectare, which indirectly reflects greater economic efficiency, is determined by the area operated, use of farm information, field extension staff visits, formal education of a farm operator, and the fragmentation of land holdings. Economies of size are evident in the data. The results obtained using ridge regression support the findings of two-stage least squares. Policies should be implemented to improve the functioning of land rental markets in order to reduce land fragmentation, improve rural education and access to relevant information; and strengthen extension facilities to individual farmers.

Suggested Citation

  • Bizimana, Claude & Nieuwoudt, W. Lieb & Ferrer, Stuart R.D., 2004. "Farm size, land fragmentation and economic efficiency in southern Rwanda," Agrekon, Agricultural Economics Association of South Africa (AEASA), vol. 43(2), pages 1-19, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:agreko:9489
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.9489
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Xianhui Hu & Xiaxia Lin & Gaohui Wen & Yi Zhou & Hao Zhou & Siqi Lin & Dongyang Yue, 2024. "The Impact of Cultivated Land Fragmentation on Farmers’ Ecological Efficiency of Cultivated Land Use Based on the Moderating and Mediating Effects of the Cultivated Land Management Scale," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-16, October.
    2. Chiara Mazzocchi & Guido Sali & Stefano Corsi, 2014. "Fragilit? del contesto agricolo periurbano: uno strumento di analisi per il governo del territorio," SCIENZE REGIONALI, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2014(3), pages 51-72.
    3. Jia, Lili, 2012. "Land fragmentation and off-farm labor supply in China," Studies on the Agricultural and Food Sector in Transition Economies, Leibniz Institute of Agricultural Development in Transition Economies (IAMO), volume 66, number 66.
    4. Tesfaye C. Cholo & Jack Peerlings & Luuk Fleskens, 2020. "Land Fragmentation, Technical Efficiency, and Adaptation to Climate Change by Farmers in the Gamo Highlands of Ethiopia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(24), pages 1-15, December.
    5. Isaac Busayo Oluwatayo, & Matshidisho Annah Rachoene, 2017. "Effect Of Agricultural Commercialization On Food Security Among Smallholder Farmers In Polokwane Municipality, Capricorn District Of Limpopo Province, South Africa," Journal of Agribusiness and Rural Development, University of Life Sciences, Poznan, Poland, vol. 43(1), March.
    6. Siyan Zeng & Fengwu Zhu & Fu Chen & Man Yu & Shaoliang Zhang & Yongjun Yang, 2018. "Assessing the Impacts of Land Consolidation on Agricultural Technical Efficiency of Producers: A Survey from Jiangsu Province, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-17, July.
    7. Ntihinyurwa, Pierre Damien & de Vries, Walter Timo & Chigbu, Uchendu Eugene & Dukwiyimpuhwe, Patrick Acklam, 2019. "The positive impacts of farm land fragmentation in Rwanda," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 81(C), pages 565-581.
    8. Tesfaye C. Cholo & Luuk Fleskens & Diana Sietz & Jack Peerlings, 2019. "Land fragmentation, climate change adaptation, and food security in the Gamo Highlands of Ethiopia," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 50(1), pages 39-49, January.
    9. Congying Zhang & Qian Chang & Liqun Shao & Xuexi Huo, 2020. "The Moderate Operation Scales of Apples Based on Output, Profit, and Unit Production Costs in the Shaanxi Province of China," Land, MDPI, vol. 9(1), pages 1-17, January.
    10. Arimoto, Yutaka & 有本, 寛 & アリモト, ユタカ, 2011. "The impact of farmland readjustment and consolidation on structural adjustment: The case of Niigata, Japan," CEI Working Paper Series 2011-3, Center for Economic Institutions, Institute of Economic Research, Hitotsubashi University.
    11. Yu, Peiheng & Fennell, Shailaja & Chen, Yiyun & Liu, Hui & Xu, Lu & Pan, Jiawei & Bai, Shaoyun & Gu, Shixiang, 2022. "Positive impacts of farmland fragmentation on agricultural production efficiency in Qilu Lake watershed: Implications for appropriate scale management," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 117(C).
    12. Arimoto, Yutaka, 2010. "Impact of land readjustment project on farmland use and structural adjustment: The case of Niigata, Japan," 2010 Annual Meeting, July 25-27, 2010, Denver, Colorado 61278, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    13. Ntihinyurwa, Pierre Damien & de Vries, Walter Timo, 2021. "Farmland fragmentation concourse: Analysis of scenarios and research gaps," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 100(C).
    14. Pierre Damien Ntihinyurwa & Walter Timo de Vries, 2021. "Farmland Fragmentation, Farmland Consolidation and Food Security: Relationships, Research Lapses and Future Perspectives," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(2), pages 1-39, January.
    15. Zhai, Shixian & Peng, Chao & Sheng, Yu, 2023. "Assessing the impact of digital financial inclusion on agricultural total factor productivity in China," International Food and Agribusiness Management Review, International Food and Agribusiness Management Association, vol. 26(3), January.
    16. Jarmila LAZIKOVA & Lubica RUMANOVSKA & Ivan TAKAC & Zuzana LAZIKOVA, 2017. "Land fragmentation and efforts to prevent it in Slovak legislation," Agricultural Economics, Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences, vol. 63(12), pages 559-568.
    17. Mariusz Dacko & Tomasz Wojewodzic & Jacek Pijanowski & Jarosław Taszakowski & Aneta Dacko & Jarosław Janus, 2021. "Increase in the Value of Agricultural Parcels—Modelling and Simulation of the Effects of Land Consolidation Project," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(5), pages 1-14, April.
    18. Liu, Jing & Jin, Xiaobin & Xu, Weiyi & Sun, Rui & Han, Bo & Yang, Xuhong & Gu, Zhengming & Xu, Cuilan & Sui, Xueyan & Zhou, Yinkang, 2019. "Influential factors and classification of cultivated land fragmentation, and implications for future land consolidation: A case study of Jiangsu Province in eastern China," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    19. Shuokai Wang & Mingming Jin & Lei Liu & Fangping Cao, 2024. "Impacts of China’s Main Grain-Producing Areas on Agricultural Carbon Emissions: A Sustainable Development Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(11), pages 1-19, May.
    20. Wang, Yahui & Li, Xiubin & Lu, Dan & Yan, Jianzhong, 2020. "Evaluating the impact of land fragmentation on the cost of agricultural operation in the southwest mountainous areas of China," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 99(C).
    21. Abebaw Andarge Gedefaw & Clement Atzberger & Walter Seher & Reinfried Mansberger, 2019. "Farmers Willingness to Participate In Voluntary Land Consolidation in Gozamin District, Ethiopia," Land, MDPI, vol. 8(10), pages 1-21, October.

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