Effect of Project Management Practices on the Performance of Smallholder Farmers in Fruit Farming Projects: A Case Study of Gashora Sector, Bugesera District, Rwanda

Cecile Niyimenya
University of Kigali
https://orcid.org/0009-0008-7724-0842
Email: cecilniyimenya@gmail.com

Abstract: This study examined the effect of project management practices on the performance of smallholder farmers in fruit farming projects in Gashora Sector, Bugesera District, Rwanda. The four practices were project planning, implementation of planned activities, monitoring and evaluation. Control Theory, Contingency Theory, Resource-Based View and Goal-Setting Theory guided the study. A quantitative descriptive-correlational design was employed, using a census of 105 smallholder fruit farmers, all of whom returned usable questionnaires. Structured questionnaires and observation checklists were used; descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation and multiple linear regression informed the analysis. Composite mean scores were 4.02 for planning, 3.93 for implementation, 3.95 for monitoring, 3.96 for evaluation and 3.92 for performance. All four predictors had positive and statistically significant coefficients: planning (B = 0.348, β= 0.343, p = 0.001), implementation (B = 0.180, β = 0.176, p = 0.041), monitoring (B = 0.177, β = 0.168, p = 0.042) and evaluation (B = 0.309, β = 0.290, p = 0.004). The model explained 87.8% of the variation in performance (R² = 0.878). The findings support integrating practical planning, timely execution, routine monitoring and post-season evaluation into agricultural extension and cooperative support in Gashora Sector.