Cooperative Strategies Enhancing Farmer Resilience in Rwanda

Rwanda's agricultural sector is characterized by smallholder farmers who face challenges such as climate variability, market instability, and low productivity. A mixed-methods approach involving surveys (N=120) and qualitative interviews (n=15) was employed to assess the impact of cooperatives on farmer resilience. Cooperative members reported increased access to credit, improved crop yields by 20% compared to non-members, and a 30% reduction in post-harvest losses. The cooperative model significantly improves farmers' economic stability and reduces vulnerability to shocks. Government support for cooperative formation should be increased, along with capacity-building programmes for cooperative leaders.