La rentabilité de la production de pomme de terre dans la région des sols de laves au Rwanda

Abstract

The profitability of potato production in the volcanic highlands in Rwanda This article aims to analyze the profitability of potato small-scale producers in Volcanic Highlands in Rwanda. Data used were collected from a random sample of 132 producers. Different methods namely accounting method, cost-benefit analysis and correlation analysis were used in the analysis of data. The results from the budgetary analysis show that the potato production is profitable and that the profitability is sensitive to the shock of production and the increase in the cost of production. By comparison, the results from sensitivity analysis of net farm income show that a decrease in potato production generates more effects than the increase in the cost of fertilizers. To improve the level of profitability, potato growers must adopt farming practices that boost the productivity. By the correlational method, the coefficient is positive and significant between net farm income and other factors namely the cost of production, the selling price, the farmer’s experience and the size of the cultivated land. These are factors that must be considered to maintain and/or improve the level of agricultural profitability.

Keywords

• profitability
• potato
• net farm income
• volcanic highlands
• rwanda