Skip to main content

LUP Student Papers

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Land Suitability Assessment for Coffee Cultivation in Nyamagabe District, Rwanda, Using GIS-Based Modelling

Lu, Liping LU (2026) NGEK11 20261
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences (MGeo)
Abstract
Land suitability assessments for coffee cultivation can support agroecological planning and contribute to food security and economic stability in many African regions. The study identifies land suitability for coffee cultivation in Nyamagabe, Rwanda, highlighting the significant influence of air temperature, rainfall, and elevation on coffee plantations. By comparing two spatial analysis results, the current suitable areas and projected suitability, the impact of climate change is evaluated. The suitability model incorporates climatic, edaphic, topographic, and socioeconomic variables, including annual mean temperature, annual rainfall, maximum temperature of warmest month, minimum temperature of coldest month, soil texture, pH, Cation... (More)
Land suitability assessments for coffee cultivation can support agroecological planning and contribute to food security and economic stability in many African regions. The study identifies land suitability for coffee cultivation in Nyamagabe, Rwanda, highlighting the significant influence of air temperature, rainfall, and elevation on coffee plantations. By comparing two spatial analysis results, the current suitable areas and projected suitability, the impact of climate change is evaluated. The suitability model incorporates climatic, edaphic, topographic, and socioeconomic variables, including annual mean temperature, annual rainfall, maximum temperature of warmest month, minimum temperature of coldest month, soil texture, pH, Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC), Soil Organic Matter (SOM), elevation, slope, aspect, distance to road, and to river. Data were standardized and weighted using the criteria for coffee cultivation. Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), and Remote Sensing (RS) were integrated into the study. Future climate projection (2041-2060) under CMIP6 scenarios (SSP3-7.0) were applied for suitability analysis. The findings suggested that in the future, climate change may reduce the suitability of some current coffee-growing areas, while optimal climatic conditions are projected to shift upslope within Nyamagabe District. In the region, the current potential suitable, sub-suitable, and unsuitable areas account for 35.8%, 35.3%, and 8.1%, respectively, while Nyungwe National Park accounts for 19.3% of the total area. Under the SSP3-7.0 scenario for the 2041-2060 period, suitable and sub-suitable zones are projected to increase by 2.7% and 5.7% respectively, when unsuitable areas are projected to decrease by 7.5 percentage points compared to current levels. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Lu, Liping LU
supervisor
organization
alternative title
Marklämplighet för kaffeodling i Nyamagabe-distriktet, Rwanda, med GIS-baserad modellering
course
NGEK11 20261
year
type
M2 - Bachelor Degree
subject
keywords
GIS-based suitability modelling, Arabica coffee plantation, Nyamagabe, AHP
language
English
id
9238916
date added to LUP
2026-06-16 10:30:00
date last changed
2026-06-16 10:30:00
@misc{9238916,
  abstract     = {{Land suitability assessments for coffee cultivation can support agroecological planning and contribute to food security and economic stability in many African regions. The study identifies land suitability for coffee cultivation in Nyamagabe, Rwanda, highlighting the significant influence of air temperature, rainfall, and elevation on coffee plantations. By comparing two spatial analysis results, the current suitable areas and projected suitability, the impact of climate change is evaluated. The suitability model incorporates climatic, edaphic, topographic, and socioeconomic variables, including annual mean temperature, annual rainfall, maximum temperature of warmest month, minimum temperature of coldest month, soil texture, pH, Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC), Soil Organic Matter (SOM), elevation, slope, aspect, distance to road, and to river. Data were standardized and weighted using the criteria for coffee cultivation. Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), and Remote Sensing (RS) were integrated into the study. Future climate projection (2041-2060) under CMIP6 scenarios (SSP3-7.0) were applied for suitability analysis. The findings suggested that in the future, climate change may reduce the suitability of some current coffee-growing areas, while optimal climatic conditions are projected to shift upslope within Nyamagabe District. In the region, the current potential suitable, sub-suitable, and unsuitable areas account for 35.8%, 35.3%, and 8.1%, respectively, while Nyungwe National Park accounts for 19.3% of the total area. Under the SSP3-7.0 scenario for the 2041-2060 period, suitable and sub-suitable zones are projected to increase by 2.7% and 5.7% respectively, when unsuitable areas are projected to decrease by 7.5 percentage points compared to current levels.}},
  author       = {{Lu, Liping}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Land Suitability Assessment for Coffee Cultivation in Nyamagabe District, Rwanda, Using GIS-Based Modelling}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}