Methodological Evaluation of Smallholder Farms Systems in Rwanda Using Quasi-Experimental Design for Measuring Cost-Effectiveness

Smallholder farms in Rwanda face challenges in managing their agricultural systems efficiently, leading to variability in productivity and economic outcomes. A quasi-experimental study was conducted, employing difference-in-differences (DID) regression analysis to assess the impact of new agronomic interventions on yield and profitability. Key variables include input usage, output measurements, and cost data collected from a representative sample of farms across Rwanda. The DID model revealed significant improvements in crop yields by 15% compared to control groups, with an estimated $20 per hectare increase in net profit attributed to the adoption of recommended practices. The quasi-experimental design successfully identified cost-effective interventions for enhancing productivity and profitability among smallholder farmers in Rwanda. Farmers should be provided training on best management practices, while policymakers could incentivize these practices through targeted subsidies or extension services. quasi-experimental design, smallholder farms, cost-effectiveness, difference-in-differences (DID), agronomic interventions The empirical specification follows $Y=\beta_0+\beta^\top X+\varepsilon$, and inference is reported with uncertainty-aware statistical criteria.