Socio-economic Viability and Sustainability of Villagization Process as an Approach to Rural Development: a Case Study of Rutonde District, Kibungo Prefecture, Rwanda

Abstract

This is an exploratory study to investigate on social and economic viability of villagization process in Rutonde district, Kibungo prefecture. The survey method of data collection was employed and a questionnaire with 46 questions was designed to identify the socio- economic factors that lead to the viability and sustainability of the villagization process. This method was chosen because it provides the best means of acquiring the data. A total of 60 questionnaires were equally administered among two villages in Rutonde district As the rural settlement scheme is the strategy adopted by the government to solve the problem of land scarcity and inadequate provision of social amenities, the villages should be made as attractive as possible. People should be encouraged to adhere to the national policy through the facilitation of access to the means of living. Rural development priority that is being given to villagization must emphasize on the provision of services such as water supply, school, health centers, and housing facilities, which to the researcher are the most important to start with for the development and the sustainability of villagization process in the country.