Adaptation and Coping Mechanisms to Climate Variability in Pastoral System in Tanzania

Abstract

This study investigates the effects and coping mechanisms to climate variability among pastoralist communities in Kilimanjaro and Manyara regions. Data were collected from a sample of 60 respondents from pastoralist communities. The sampled pastoralists were selected using random sampling techniques. Data were analysed by descriptive statistics and results of the study show that the main social assets among the pastoralists were economic group, social gathering and community participation. However, the financial assets were cattle, goats, sheep, donkey and little financial supports from financial institutions. Moreover, the prolonged drought and flood which was basically due to climate variability caused losses of some of these assets. Therefore the study recommended that deliberate efforts should be made to mobilize, sensitize and train the community members to join in economic groups where they could diversify their economy instead of depending on one activity (livestock keeping).

Keywords: Assets, coping mechanisms, livelihood, livestock, pasture