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Impact of Zero Grazing Practices on Livestock Production Among Smallholder Farmers in Rwanda: A Case Study of Burera and Gicumbi Districts

Received: 31 December 2021     Accepted: 18 January 2022     Published: 27 September 2022
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Abstract

Livestock plays a crucial role in household and national economies of Rwanda and contributes to the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The aim of this study was to assess the impact of zero grazing on livestock production among smallholder farmers in Rwanda. A case study of Burera and Gicumbi districts. A Cross-sectional data from rural households and communities were collected using survey methods. Twenty (20) farmers were selected from each of the eight sectors making one hundred sixth (160) do livestock zero grazing farmers system. The findings of the study indicated that main and first feeds used by farmers in zero grazing in study area is nippier grasses (Pennisetum spp) with 100%. The result of the regression analysis in (table 3) showed that eight variables out of thirteen were positively influenced production of zero grazed livestock in study area. Gender, farming experience, land size, source of feeds, and yield were statistically significant at (P ≤ 0.01) level. The findings in table 4 showed that, the four sectors namely income generation, quick accumulation of manure, infrastructure facilities, and animal high yield produce have statistically and significantly affected by zero grazing system at (P ≤ 0.01). The findings of this study showed that the most common constraints for zero grazing system is small and fragmented land holdings, lack/poor animal housing with (100%). The shortage of water/quantity/quality of fodder was the second constraints in study area with (90.3%). The findings also showed that there was no good and separate houses for the livestock in study area while most of the livestock raised without housing. The number of veterinaries and extension service should be increased as well as to control the problem of poor quality and low quantity of livestock products, disease, and death of animal raised. Proper animal housing and proper animal feeding both in quality and in quantity should be increased in order to improve animal health and increase livestock production.

Published in International Journal of Animal Science and Technology (Volume 6, Issue 3)
DOI 10.11648/j.ijast.20220603.12
Page(s) 55-63
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This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2022. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Impact, Zero Grazing Practices, Livestock, Production, Smallholder Farmers

References
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    Ntabakirabose Gaspard, Mbabazi Mbabazize, Mpatswenumugabo Jean Pierre, Izamuhaye Jean Claude, David Mwehia Mburu. (2022). Impact of Zero Grazing Practices on Livestock Production Among Smallholder Farmers in Rwanda: A Case Study of Burera and Gicumbi Districts. International Journal of Animal Science and Technology, 6(3), 55-63. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijast.20220603.12

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    Ntabakirabose Gaspard; Mbabazi Mbabazize; Mpatswenumugabo Jean Pierre; Izamuhaye Jean Claude; David Mwehia Mburu. Impact of Zero Grazing Practices on Livestock Production Among Smallholder Farmers in Rwanda: A Case Study of Burera and Gicumbi Districts. Int. J. Anim. Sci. Technol. 2022, 6(3), 55-63. doi: 10.11648/j.ijast.20220603.12

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    Ntabakirabose Gaspard, Mbabazi Mbabazize, Mpatswenumugabo Jean Pierre, Izamuhaye Jean Claude, David Mwehia Mburu. Impact of Zero Grazing Practices on Livestock Production Among Smallholder Farmers in Rwanda: A Case Study of Burera and Gicumbi Districts. Int J Anim Sci Technol. 2022;6(3):55-63. doi: 10.11648/j.ijast.20220603.12

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijast.20220603.12,
      author = {Ntabakirabose Gaspard and Mbabazi Mbabazize and Mpatswenumugabo Jean Pierre and Izamuhaye Jean Claude and David Mwehia Mburu},
      title = {Impact of Zero Grazing Practices on Livestock Production Among Smallholder Farmers in Rwanda: A Case Study of Burera and Gicumbi Districts},
      journal = {International Journal of Animal Science and Technology},
      volume = {6},
      number = {3},
      pages = {55-63},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijast.20220603.12},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijast.20220603.12},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijast.20220603.12},
      abstract = {Livestock plays a crucial role in household and national economies of Rwanda and contributes to the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The aim of this study was to assess the impact of zero grazing on livestock production among smallholder farmers in Rwanda. A case study of Burera and Gicumbi districts. A Cross-sectional data from rural households and communities were collected using survey methods. Twenty (20) farmers were selected from each of the eight sectors making one hundred sixth (160) do livestock zero grazing farmers system. The findings of the study indicated that main and first feeds used by farmers in zero grazing in study area is nippier grasses (Pennisetum spp) with 100%. The result of the regression analysis in (table 3) showed that eight variables out of thirteen were positively influenced production of zero grazed livestock in study area. Gender, farming experience, land size, source of feeds, and yield were statistically significant at (P ≤ 0.01) level. The findings in table 4 showed that, the four sectors namely income generation, quick accumulation of manure, infrastructure facilities, and animal high yield produce have statistically and significantly affected by zero grazing system at (P ≤ 0.01). The findings of this study showed that the most common constraints for zero grazing system is small and fragmented land holdings, lack/poor animal housing with (100%). The shortage of water/quantity/quality of fodder was the second constraints in study area with (90.3%). The findings also showed that there was no good and separate houses for the livestock in study area while most of the livestock raised without housing. The number of veterinaries and extension service should be increased as well as to control the problem of poor quality and low quantity of livestock products, disease, and death of animal raised. Proper animal housing and proper animal feeding both in quality and in quantity should be increased in order to improve animal health and increase livestock production.},
     year = {2022}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Impact of Zero Grazing Practices on Livestock Production Among Smallholder Farmers in Rwanda: A Case Study of Burera and Gicumbi Districts
    AU  - Ntabakirabose Gaspard
    AU  - Mbabazi Mbabazize
    AU  - Mpatswenumugabo Jean Pierre
    AU  - Izamuhaye Jean Claude
    AU  - David Mwehia Mburu
    Y1  - 2022/09/27
    PY  - 2022
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijast.20220603.12
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ijast.20220603.12
    T2  - International Journal of Animal Science and Technology
    JF  - International Journal of Animal Science and Technology
    JO  - International Journal of Animal Science and Technology
    SP  - 55
    EP  - 63
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2640-1312
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijast.20220603.12
    AB  - Livestock plays a crucial role in household and national economies of Rwanda and contributes to the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The aim of this study was to assess the impact of zero grazing on livestock production among smallholder farmers in Rwanda. A case study of Burera and Gicumbi districts. A Cross-sectional data from rural households and communities were collected using survey methods. Twenty (20) farmers were selected from each of the eight sectors making one hundred sixth (160) do livestock zero grazing farmers system. The findings of the study indicated that main and first feeds used by farmers in zero grazing in study area is nippier grasses (Pennisetum spp) with 100%. The result of the regression analysis in (table 3) showed that eight variables out of thirteen were positively influenced production of zero grazed livestock in study area. Gender, farming experience, land size, source of feeds, and yield were statistically significant at (P ≤ 0.01) level. The findings in table 4 showed that, the four sectors namely income generation, quick accumulation of manure, infrastructure facilities, and animal high yield produce have statistically and significantly affected by zero grazing system at (P ≤ 0.01). The findings of this study showed that the most common constraints for zero grazing system is small and fragmented land holdings, lack/poor animal housing with (100%). The shortage of water/quantity/quality of fodder was the second constraints in study area with (90.3%). The findings also showed that there was no good and separate houses for the livestock in study area while most of the livestock raised without housing. The number of veterinaries and extension service should be increased as well as to control the problem of poor quality and low quantity of livestock products, disease, and death of animal raised. Proper animal housing and proper animal feeding both in quality and in quantity should be increased in order to improve animal health and increase livestock production.
    VL  - 6
    IS  - 3
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources, Agriculture Value Chain Management and Trade, Kigali, Rwanda

  • College of Humanities of Social Sciences, Kampala International University, Kampala, Uganda

  • College of Agriculture, Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine (UR-CAVM), University of Rwanda, Kigali, Rwanda

  • Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources, Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board, Kigali, Rwanda

  • Department of Land Resources Planning and Management, College of Agriculture & Natural Resources, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), Nairobi, Kenya

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