Authors: Jean Pierre Mbonyiyeze1, Cliff Ooga Obwogi2 and Stephen Mailu3
1,2&3National Defence University-Kenya
P.O. Box 24381- 00502, Nairobi, Kenya
Abstract: Food insecurity is a pressing issue across the globe that needs urgent solutions. The rapidly growing population is also an indicator that demand for food will increase in the future, thus effective solutions are critical. Irrigation is one of the solutions able to promote higher production levels in the agricultural sector. This study focused on assessment of the predisposing factors towards adoption of irrigation in alleviating food insecurity in Bubanza Province, Burundi. The Sustainable Livelihoods Framework guided this study because it is a suitable lens for understanding the relationship between irrigation systems and food insecurity. The study followed a descriptive research design. The research employed a mixed methods approach. The targeted population included 3,380 irrigating households along River Kajeke in Mpanda commune, Bubanza Province, community leaders and personnel from the Ministry of Environment, Agriculture, and Livestock, from which the sample size is 97 was achieved. Both simple random sampling and purposive sampling were applied during this research. For the irrigating households and community leaders, the researcher used the simple random sampling. On the other hand, when selecting the personnel from the government ministry of agriculture, purposive sampling was sufficient. Primary data was collected through questionnaire and interviews. Statistical Package and Social Sciences which is a powerful, reliable and user-friendly statistical software that efficiently analysed primary while secondary data was analysed using Nvivo thereby producing accurate results through a wide range of descriptive and inferential statistical techniques. The study found out that climate unpredictability in Bubanza Province was a significant motivator to farmers adopting irrigated agriculture. The study established that rainfall unpredictability and climate variability are the primary predisposing factors influencing farmers to adopt irrigation. The study also realized that several of the policy elements such as provision of adequate infrastructure, extension services, and financing have not been met by the government. However, the study realized that significant benefits are being reaped by the irrigating households in terms of food adequacy within their households, even though surplus for supplying markets remains minimal.
Key words: Food Insecurity, Bubanza Province, Irrigation Systems, Climate Unpredictability, Irrigated Agriculture, Irrigating Households
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Mbonyiyeze, P. J, Obwogi, C.O., and Mailu, S. (2026). Predisposing Factors Towards Adoption Of Irrigation In Alleviating Food Insecurity In Bubanza Province, Burundi. African Research Journal of Education and Social Sciences, 13(2), 29-44. Available at https://arjess.org/uploads/predisposing-factors-towards-adoption-of-irrigation-in-alleviating-food-insecurity-in-bubanza-province-burundi.pdf