In consideration of the chronic poverty of farmers in Rwanda as well as in other developing countries where self-sufficient agriculture is practiced, this study examines what the well studied theory of specialization and trade, if implemented, could bring to Rwandan farmers in terms of production and profits. / To attain this objective, a spatial optimization model with linear programming was built and used to maximize the potential production and net returns which were compared to those from the traditional system. The model was built in a way that it also shows the pattern of trade and quantities traded. / The results show that a regional specialization system would allow, on the national level, more production, higher net returns, and more trade than the traditional system (self-sufficient agriculture) as expected according to the theory of specialization and trade. Nevertheless, the net return in some regions decreases in the new system, which necessitates a compensation plan for those regions. / However, it has to be noted that despite these gains, the adoption of the new plans requires a consideration of many other factors that are not covered in this study. Of those factors, the most obvious are the need to improve the transportation and marketing infrastructure, changing farmers' attitudes and objectives towards commercial agriculture, and securing equity, security, and sustainability in the system.

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The objective of this study is to investigate the impact of membership in women's rural associations on farm productivity. A survey of 320 women was carried out in the Prefecture of Gitarama in Rwanda, in order to obtain primary data and test the hypothesis. / The survey results indicate that women's associations contribute to an increased yield compared to NON-MEMBERS. / In the case of credit and technical assistance, women in general received low support. Being a member of an association provides additional income to the member, but this is not the main reason to join the association. Social reasons, such as not having to work alone and being able to exchange views with other women, prevail over the economic reasons. Mutual aid is considered an important factor when considering joining the association. / The survey results revealed that MEMBERS in general are more literate, are slightly older, have larger families and spend a higher percentage of their income on investments than NON-MEMBERS. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

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