The development of farm woodlots as an
alternative source of livelihood for smallholder farmers
in diverse biophysical and socio-economic conditions
is a challenging issue in developing countries,
such as Rwanda, where the majority of the population
relies on subsistence farming. There is a need to
understand why and when farmers decide to grow
trees and woodlots on their farms. The objective of
this study was to analyse the determinants and the
purposes that enhance the propensity to grow woodlots
in low, medium and high altitude regions of Rwanda.
Necessary information for this study came from a
survey of 480 households across these regions. The
results showed regional variations in the determinants
of woodlot farming, demonstrating the importance of
not extrapolating the results between regions. Pooled
data across regions indicated that age of the householder,
number of salaried household members, farm
size, travel distance to fuelwood sources and household
location in medium forest cover region had
positive significant effects on the propensity to grow
farm woodlots. In contrast, household location in
low forest cover region, ownership of livestock and
monthly frequency of purchasing fuelwood were
inversely related to the presence of farm woodlots.
Many households planted eucalyptus woodlots for
economic reasons, not for environmental purposes.
Livestock and crop production were more attractive to
rural households than woodlot farming. The findings
of the study can be used by policymakers and
extension services in order to promote sustainable
land use practices by focusing on the challenges of
competing land uses, farm size, unemployment,
dependence on forests for fuelwood supply and
subsistence farming.