Understanding smallholder farming systems for food security in Burundi Sanctus Niragira “Most of the people in the world are poor, so if we knew the economics of being poor we would know much of the economics that really matters. Most of the world's poor people earn their living from agriculture, so if we knew the economics of agriculture we would know much of the economics of being poor.” Theodore William Schultz during his Nobel Lecture in 1979; published in 1980. Promoters: Prof. dr. ir. Jeroen Buysse Department of Agricultural Economics, Ghent University, Belgium Prof. dr. ir. Marijke D’Haese Department of Agricultural Economics, Ghent University, Belgium Prof. dr.ir. Jos Van Orshoven Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences, KU Leuven, Belgium Dean : Prof. dr. ir. Marc Van Meirvenne Rector : Prof. dr. Anne De Paepe Sanctus Niragira Understanding smallholder farming systems for food security in Burundi Dissertation in the fulfilment of the requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Applied Biological Sciences: Agricultural Sciences Dutch translation of the title: Portret van de huidige kleinschalige landbouwsystemen met oog op het verbeteren van voedselzekerheid in Burundi Suggested way of citation: Niragira, S., 2016. Understanding smallholder farming systems for food security in Burundi. Doctoral dissertation, Ghent University. ISBN 978-90-5989-945-2 The author and the promoters give the authorisation to consult and to copy parts of this work for personal use only. Every other use is subjected to the copy right law. Permission to reproduce any material contained in this work should be obtained from the author. Members of examination board Prof. dr. ir. Pascal Boeckx (Chairman) Department of Applied Analytical and Physical Chemistry, Ghent University, Belgium Prof. dr. Johann Kirsten Department of Agricultural Economics, Extension and Rural Development, University of Pretoria, South Africa Prof.dr. Carl Lachat (Secretary) Department of Food Safety and Food Quality, Ghent University, Belgium Prof. dr. Pontien Ndabaneze Deputy Executive Secretary, Inter-University Council for East Africa, Uganda Prof. dr.ir. Jean Ndimubandi Département de Socio-Economie Rurale, Université du Burundi Prof.dr.ir. Stijn Speelman Department of Agricultural Economics, Ghent University, Belgium Prof. dr. ir. Jeroen Buysse (promotor) Department of Agricultural Economics, Ghent University, Belgium Prof. dr. ir. Marijke D’Haese (promotor) Department of Agricultural Economics, Ghent University, Belgium Prof. dr.ir. Jos Van Orshoven (promotor) Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences, KU Leuven, Belgium Acknowledgements This PhD dissertation is the fruit of my own efforts indeed. But its success relied largely on joint supports, encouragements and guidelines of many other people. Without their support, I would not have been able to successfully achieve the completion of this thesis. It is therefore an opportunity and honour for me to express my heartfelt gratitude to those caring and loving spirits who have been my inspiration and guides throughout this educational experience. I take this opportunity to first thank my promoter Prof. dr. ir. Marijke D’Haese for the guidance and critical comments, both during the period of conceptualizing my research proposal and during the thesis development and writing up. Your wise advices and good ideas contributed greatly in maturing my research skills and deserve an eternal gratefulness. I can't say thank you enough for the tremendous support and help. Yet I commit myself to perpetuate this noble experience for the improved world as acknowledgement. I thank my supervisors, your constructive suggestions and comments have shaped my thinking and writing, which led to this final thesis. I have learnt a lot from you and I appreciate your patience in directing me. My gratitude goes first to Prof. dr. ir. Jeroen Buysse for his great effort in helping me to understand and rewrite the GAMS models, and the critical insights and astute comments. To Prof. dr. ir. Jos Van Orshoven, Professor at KU Leuven, I express my deep gratitude for having accepted to join the supervision of this PhD research. Your wise comments have greatly contributed to the completion of this dissertation. I gratefully acknowledge the guidance I enjoyed since my first step in research from Prof.dr. ir. Jean Ndimubandi, Professor at the University of Burundi. I cannot forget the financial support for the research from the Vlaamse Interuniversitaire Raad (VLIR-UOS) project (SADeR), coordinated by the latter professors, which granted me with access to necessary funds to complete this PhD dissertation. Moreover, I would like to send my special thanks to those people who created the essential conditions for my Masters and Doctoral training. To Mzee Prof. Em. dr. ir. Luc D’Haese and Ann Marie De Winter Remaut, I am highly indebted to you. I cannot forget to express a word of thanks to the rest of the staff of the department of agricultural economics. To Prof. dr. ir. Stijn Speelman, I express my gratitude for the i many times you have helped me. Thank you Ann Verspecht, Sybille Maas, Marleen De Meyer, Annick Lippens and Fredrick Van De Casteel for your constant help whenever it was needed. The same appreciations go to my former PhD colleagues in the department who were more than willing to offer advice and support. To Dr Wytse Vellema, Dr Ellen Van Loo, Jan Brusselaers, Bérénice Dupeux, Andreas Bral, Juan Tur Cardona, Lotte Staelens, Eline D’Haene, Anneline Gansemans, Julia De Frutos Cachorro, Guen Willeghems, David de Pue, Tinsae Demise Handino, Zekarias Shumeta and Kifle Tesfamariam Sebhatu, thank you for your continuous moral support and for all the good times we spent together. To Dr Sam Desiere, I really appreciate your collaboration while collecting data in the northern region of Burundi, and when applying for the ENAB data at the National Bureau of Statistics in Burundi. My gratitude also extends to farmers and extension service officers who spent their time with me filling out questionnaires. I also thank the team of enumerators at the University of Burundi especially Amon Masabarakiza, Sylvestre Ndikuriyo, Audace Niyonzima, Angelos Niyomuvunyi and Pascal Ndizeye for the time we spent together collecting data in the sloping mountains of Ngozi. To my students: Claude Uwizeyimana, Prosper Niyonzima, Fulgence Nkurunziza, Jerôme Sindayigaya, Guido Ndayiragije, Nadia Kaneza, Emmanuel Nzobonimpa, Jerôme Bigirimana and Vincent Nsabumuremyi thank you very much for having understood my advices and concerns whenever required. I wish you a successful life ahead. To my country fellow Dr Serge Ngendakumana, Dr Gahiro Leonidas, Boniface Manirambona, Regis Mpawenayo, Potamie Nibigira, Clemence Ndayisenga, Dr Patricia Ntarima, Dr Théophile Bandora and Léonie Ndabigengesere, Dr Charles Bakundukize, Gloriose Ndikumasabo, Maria Goretti Nduwimana, Athanase Nsabiyumva, Nduwayo Hermes, Claude Bigirimana, Marcien Ndagijimana, Saturnin Coyiremeye and Banyanse Perpétue, Leonard Nkezigabo and Générerose Kabihogo, Mathernos Macumi and Janette Barutwanayo, Devote Irambona and Esperance Ndayishimiye thank you very much for your moral support. Your fellowship has significantly contributed to a suitable environment for my research activities. ii Last but not least, I am forever indebted to my mother Bernadette Bavakure and my late father Casimir Nikura for your constant love and support. You greatly made my education. Without your encouragements and sacrifice, I could not get to this stage in my life. To My brother Dr Innocent Riyazimana, my sister Domina Ntahimpera and Elyse Berahino, thank you for your support and joke whenever we talked about our studies. You really made my days. Finally, my exceptional thanks go to my wife Annonciate Habarugira, my son Hubert Johnny Niragira and my daughter Sancta Chloé Niragira for their love and patience. To you my beloved little family, I dedicate this dissertation. Sanctus Niragira iii Table of contents Acknowledgements ...................................................................................................... i Table of contents ........................................................................................................ iv List of tables ............................................................................................................. viii List of figures .............................................................................................................. ix List of abbreviations and acronyms ............................................................................. x Summary ................................................................................................................... xii Samenvatting ............................................................................................................. xv Chapter 1: General introduction .................................................................................. 1 Abstract .............................................................................................................................................. 1 1.1. Concepts and background ................................................................................................ 2 1.1.1. Concept of food security .................................................................................................... 2 1.1.2. Challenges of food security ..............................................................................................