RWAMAGANA – A survey conducted by experts in the Eastern Province has shown that high fertility rate among women has had a direct impact on rural per capita income.Henry Kakoza, in charge of Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy (EDPRS), in the province, told The New Times that the rural population continues to lags behind due to rapid population growth.He said communities were unable to produce enough food to feed their large families and found it difficult to sustain per family income, arguing that economic growth takes place when the growth in production supersedes growth in population."Families in our communities have an average of five children. Districts like Kirehe and Bugesera are among the most affected,” he said.Kakoza added that the high fertility rate was one of the main reasons behind infant mortality. "Bugesera has the highest infant mortality rate in the Province, while only 58 percent of women give birth in health centres or hospitals in Kirehe. Remember these are the very districts with high a fertility rate”.Kirehe Mayor, Protais Murayire, said that if the population continues to grow at the same rate, it would continue to strain food security measures as well as habitable land.He, however, said more Rwandans were now keen to apply family planning methods."High population growth also puts incredible pressure on the environment, but we are carrying out mass campaigns to reverse the trend,” he said.Epimaque Habarurema, a retired teacher in Ngoma District, said population increase in rural areas was largely due to conservative beliefs; in the past; the bigger the families were the greater dignity they had in the wider society.