Promoting food security in Rwanda through sustainable agricultural productivity : meeting the challenges of population pressure, land degradation, and poverty / Daniel C. Clay ... [et al.]

The objective of this technical paper is to shed insights on ways of reversing the spiraling decline of the land and the economy in rural Rwanda, with focus on the forces behind productivity decline in the Rwandan agricultural sector. The results are based on collaborative research between the Rwandan Ministry of Agriculture and Michigan State University.Among the key findings are that Rwandan farmers need to sustain and intensify their farming by pro-tecting the soil against erosion. They should also enhance soil fertility through the use of organic matter, chemical fertilizer, and lime.This report focuses on priority strategies and questions regarding the many issues that have come to the development debate about the highland tropics of Africa. It systematically applies details, nationwide survey data to these key questions. Moreover, the report points to the great value of excellent national agricultural statistics services and the national capacity to analyze data and provide insights for policy debate.