Economic benefits of rice production in rural areas of Rwanda

This study has examined the promotion of rice production as a solution to the lower levels of saving and income in the rural areas of Rwanda. Case study of KOAIRWA Cooperative with study period: 2007-2011. The study was mainly based on data from 65 members of KOAIRWA located in Huye District, Southern Province. The study had two main specific objectives: To analyze the constraints of rice production in Rwanda and to identify the strategies of promoting rice production in Rwanda in general. Findings from the study seem to indicate that rice production has contributed significantly to the increase of income for farmers through the sale of their production, thus the sale of rice production has contributed to the food security of the Rwandan population living in Huye District. Furthermore, the establishment of KOAIRWA has contributed a lot to the promotion of welfare of the members such as the increase of income, the improvement of savings, and access to health services and the payment of school fees of their children