Abstract: Climate change continues to affect food quality and increase food insecurity across Africa. This study examined the influence of climate change adaptation strategies on household food security among farm households in Nyabihu District, Rwanda. The study was guided by four objectives: identifying adaptation strategies used by farm households, determining food security outcomes following their adoption, analyzing the causal relationship between adaptation strategies and food security, and assessing socio-economic factors moderating this relationship. A total of 409 respondents participated in the study, including 397 household heads selected randomly and 12 sector authorities selected purposively through a multistage sampling technique. Secondary data were obtained from the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda and the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and SPSS version 22. The findings revealed that crop diversity (92.7%) and improved crop varieties (92.7%) were the most widely adopted adaptation strategies, with over 90% of respondents supporting them. Traditional practices such as crop rotation and mixed farming were also endorsed by more than 90% of respondents. While over 85% favored modern approaches such as short-season crops and agricultural technologies, their adoption showed variability due to unequal access. Adoption of these strategies significantly improved food security dimensions: 82.8% reported improved access, 78.5% improved utilization, 82.1% improved stability, and 80.5% increased food availability. Correlation analysis indicated strong positive relationships between adaptation strategies and food security outcomes, with coefficients for agricultural technology ranging from r = 0.76 to 0.80. Multivariate regression results confirmed that all strategies had significant effects (p < 0.05) and explained 69% to 78% of the variation (R² = 0.69–0.78), with agricultural technology showing the strongest influence (β = 0.39–0.45). Despite these positive outcomes, challenges such as limited resources, inadequate training, and financial constraints hinder full implementation, especially in rural areas. The study concludes that integrating both traditional and modern adaptation strategies is essential for enhancing food security and climate resilience. It recommends strengthening extension services, improving access to affordable inputs, investing in climate-resilient infrastructure, and promoting farmer cooperation.
Keywords: Farm Household, Climate Change, Food Security, Nyabihu District, Rwanda.
Title: Influence of Farm Household Climate Change Adaptation Strategies on Food Security in Nyabihu District, Rwanda
Author: Mr. Bahufite Uwitonze Emmanuel, Dr. Eugenia Nkechi Irechukwu, Mr. Masaka Eliud
International Journal of Social Science and Humanities Research
ISSN 2348-3156 (Print), ISSN 2348-3164 (online)
Vol. 14, Issue 2, April 2026 - June 2026
Page No: 81-89
Research Publish Journals
Website: www.researchpublish.com
Published Date: 04-May-2026
