IMPACT OF LAND USE AND LAND COVER CHANGE ON AGRICULTURE PRODUCTION IN MUHANGA CITY

Abstract

Cities that are being built worldwide. This is a major driving force for the Land Use/ Land Cover Changes that is plaguing our world insidiously. Such changes impact the Agricultural sector and limit the availability of products and services for human and livestock. Environmental Health is also impacted. Unfortunately, much information is not documented regarding the relationship between LULC Change and the Agricultural production within Urban and Rural Areas. This study, therefore, is aimed at demonstrating this relationship by considering the agricultural production in Muhanga City, Rwanda.  Time-series satellite images that included Landsat ETM+ were used for likelihood classification of LULC. Socio-economic Survey, interviews and review of documents were carried out to understand historical trends. Ground truth points were collected and other secondary information required.  Analysis of data was accomplished through the use of ERDAS imagine (version 9.1) and ArcGIS (version 10.8) software packages along with Microsoft office analytical tools. Remote sensing analysis gave us the status of change of cultivated land to have a net increase in Muhanga city while agricultural statistics has showed agricultural production has decreased between 2002 and 2022. The study also revealed that the study area has lost some 22.3% (1365.75 ha) of cultivated land to urbanization (Built-up) between 2002 and 2022. At the same time built-up has increased about 16.9 % (1034.58 ha). The LULC changes have also destroyed forested land in the study area. These are also the dominant crops cultivated in Muhanga city. It revealed that Many crops yields were reduced as indicated: Maize reduced from 571 Kg to 541kg, Cassava from 1345 to 1040 kg, Rice from 394.7 to 387 kg, Ordinary Beans from 640.6 to 490 kg, Climbing Beans from 747 to 736 kg, Peas from 116 ha to 70 kg, Vegetables from 3716 kg to 3523 kg, Soybeans from70 kg to 22 kg, Banana from 1695 kg to 1115 kg, Irish potatoes from 313.9 to 225 kg, Sweet potatoes from 181.9 kg to 152 kg, Fruits from 78 to 89kg and Coffee 52 to 17 kg. Continuous monitoring of LULC changes and their impacts are still recommended.