Impacts of climate change, variability and adaptation strategies on agriculture in semi arid areas of Tanzania: The case of Manyoni District in Singida Region, Tanzania

A study was carried in two villages of Kamenyanga and Kintinku of Manyoni District, central Tanzania. The overall objective of this study was to understand local communities’ perceptions on climate and variability issues and establish its impacts and adaptation strategies within agricultural sector. Both secondary and primary were used. Primary data were obtained using different Participatory Research Approaches (PRA) including, focus group discussions and household questionnaires. In each village, a sample size of 10% of all households was interviewed. Findings showed that local people perceived changes in rainfall and temperature. The changes have affected crops and livestock in a number of ways resulting in reduced productivity. Empirical analysis of rainfall suggest decreasing rainfall trend between 1922 and 2007 whereas mean maximum and minimum temperature increased by 1.9 and 0.2°C respectively. The average annual temperature increase of 0.7°C between 1984 and 2004 was realized. There are different wealth groups namely the rich, the middle and the poor and these are differently vulnerable climate change. The study concluded that, the wealth of knowledge on coping and adaptation that farmer has should form a foundation for designing agricultural innovation systems to deal with impacts of climate change and variability. Further, development initiatives at community level in semi arid areas should put more emphasis on water harvesting to ensure water storage for crops and livestock.Key words: Agriculture production, climate change, Kamenyanga village, Manyoni District, rainfall, Singida Region

Impacts of climate change, variability and adaptation strategies on agriculture in semi arid areas of Tanzania : the case of Manyoni District in Singida Region, Tanzania

Africa is particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change because of factors such as widespread poverty, recurrent droughts, inequitable land distribution and over dependence on rain-fed agriculture. This study explored indigenous knowledge, adaptive capacity and coping strategies, coupled with scientific analysis of prevailing climatic patterns in the areas of study, and identified enhanced adaptations for agricultural systems. It was carried out in Manyoni District in Singida Region, Tanzania where 55% of its populations are living below the food poverty line. A combination of existing strategies to adapt, such as timing of agricultural operations and crop diversification, need further strengthening and support

Implications of landuse /cover changes over three decades on community livelihoods within the context of REDD : a case study of Mgori forest in Singida

Abstract The majority of communities living in rural areas of Tanzania depends on natural resources in particular forests and woodlands for their livelihoods. As a result forests and woodlands have been under pressure with declining tendencies in terms of their cover in many parts of Tanzania. Apart from their potential in supporting community livelihoods, forests also contributes to climate change mitigations by reducing carbon emissions. Few remaining forests if well managed can effectively support communities in a number of ways including carbon trade if REDD initiative is well implemented. It therefore very crucial to investigate the dynamics of landuse changes over time and possible implications to community livelihoods to forest depended communities within the context of REDD. The present study investigated landuse change over time at Mgori where PFM involving a total of 5 villages is involved. The study also established that woodlands decreased by 53.8% within a period of 10 years from 1990 to 2010 on the expense bushland which increased by 22.9%. In general agricultural land also increased by 4.8% and this was linked to expansion of crop land due to much dependence on community livelihoods by between 65 and 70%. In general the area is potential for REDD project because of the presence of woodlands, experience of communities on forest governance under CBFM as well as realizing various opportunities REDD may present which are more than challenges. However much more effort is needed to ensure that communities are well educated on potential benefits associated with REDD.CCIA

The challenges and opportunities conservation initiatives may present on livelihoods to smallholders in Mgori community based forest reserve

Changes of conservation initiatives aim at balancing sustainability of forest resources and rural livelihoods. Little is known on influence of conservation to livelihoods. This study assessed people’s livelihood assets and the way conservation institutions modify access to the assets, and its implications to poverty. Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected. Ninety seven households were randomly selected from three villages. Content analysis was used to analyze qualitative data while SPSS computer software was used for quantitative data analysis. There was reduced access to livelihood assets especially natural assets attributable to conservation initiative. Respondents (60%) felt that they pay for conservation more than they benefit from the conservation. Household income sources were: agriculture (54.1%), environmental income (5.6%) and non-farm and off-farms contributed (40.3%). The total household income increased with increase in agricultural crop sales (especially finger millets) and the relationship was significant (P<0.01). Majority (75%) perceived that climate change may impact smallholders’ livelihoods directly through a change in rainfall and temperatures, but 90% observed that mitigation such as REDD initiatives may also lead to serious challenges to smallholders due to restrictions on access to land. Restrictions attributable to conservations (environmental income), increased income inequality. The inequality as measured by the Gini coefficient increased significantly without environmental income in Mughunga (0.1), Ngimu (0.01) and Pohama (0.01). Generally, without environmental income, the overall Gini coefficient decreased to 0.08 units. Community’s perception on increased conservation initiative e.g. towards REDD for poverty reduction was negative. Under current conservation initiative the wildlife conflicts were reported high (88%), among them 58% of the respondents attributed the extent of conflicts due to conservation. Pressure on land around Mogori Community Based Forest Management increased due to population growth and the demand for cultivating drought resistant crops (e.g. finger millets). REDD introduction, should be handled in a broader context in order to try avoiding adverse effects on smallholders’ access to resources and, hence, to their livelihoods.CCIA

The linkages between land use change, land degradation and biodiversity across East Africa

Land use changes in East Africa have transformed land cover to farmlands, grazing lands, human settlements and urban centers at the expense of natural vegetation. These changes are associated with deforestation, biodiversity loss and land degradation. A synthesis of results of long term research by an interdisciplinary team reveals the linkages between land use change, biodiversity loss and land degradation. The results indicate that as native vegetation is lost, indigenous plant and animal biodiversity and plant cover are lost. Pastoralism maintains native plant and animal species more effectively than crop cultivation. As croplands expand, soil fertility and moisture drops and soils erode more easily. Farmers who grow many crops conserve native plant species better than those who grow only one crop. Increased crop diversity encourages regeneration of indigenous plant species. Moderate farming as in the less intensive low input rainfed mixed crop farming, in less forested areas increases tree cover thus increasing the biodiversity. Farmers’ who combine livestock rearing with cropping, use livestock manure to replenish soil nutrients in their farms and are thus able to maintain higher productivity. Farming in grasslands, woodlands and bushland areas where there are fewer trees, increases the diversity of habitats due to introduction of agrosystems that attract new species of birds. However, if the farming is intensified and the diversity of habitats is reduced biodiversity is also reduced. This paper presents findings of the investigations on these linkages in a diverse farming and herding systems ranging from lowlands to high mountains land uses