The Impact of Climate Change on Food Production in Lugoba Ward, Western Bagamoyo

Abstract

This article focuses on the impacts of climate change on food production in Lugoba ward in Western Bagamoyo. The main objective of this article is to explore with other factors, the impact of climate change on food production in Lunga village. This study applied case study design as only one village is selected for this study. The sample of sixty six respondents was selected at random where questionnaires, interviews, focus group discussion,  listening to peoples’ narratives and observation techniques were used for data collection. Information collected was analysed using MS Excel and contents analysis. The findings show that the development of Lunga village has not changed much since 1980s. In 1980s and before, life of the people was mainly relying on agriculture and livestock keeping. Even today farming is the main economic activity for people residing in Lunga village. People are still producing mainly for subsistence, very little is taken to the market for sale. Crops which are grown in the village include maize, millet, sweet potatoes, banana, cassava and beans. Other economic activities practiced in the village include livestock keeping, charcoal making, petty business and employment in civil societies. People are engaging in more than one economic activity because of climate change and drought. Climate change has impacted food production where harvest has gone down. The finding proved that in 2013, farmers harvested little while others harvested nothing because rainfall did not last long. It rained shortly and then stopped. The crops which were planted stunted andthen died. This paper recommends for villagers to grow drought resistant crops and highly follow the predictions of weather as given be Tanzania Meteorological Agency (TMA). It is also recommended that feedback of research findings should be sent to the villagers. Finally, the research recommends for other study in other villages focusing on food production and climate change.