Journal of Geographical Association of Tanzania

Smallholder Farmers’ Resilience in Adapting to Climate Changes in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania

2024-08-08T12:36:51+00:00

Ensuring food security and increasing crop production in the face of climate change and environmental obstacles pose a pressing concern for smallholder farmers in the southern highlands of Tanzania. Through a combined approach of qualitative and quantitative data collection methods—which includes key informant interviews, focus group discussions, observations, and household surveys—this paper examines the methods employed by smallholder farmers to bolster resilience and reduce vulnerability to environmental shifts. The results suggest that climate change exerts effects on both the village farming system and households by the following percentages of impact: food shortages (38.7% village/farming system, 29.0% household); infestation of uncommon pests (30.6% village/farming system, 27.4% household); diminishing rainfall/drought (22.6% village/farming system, 17.7% household); and crop failure (24.2% village/farming system, 29.0% household). The household farming methods practised by farmers encompass a range of strategies that include: agroforestry (37.1% adoption rate), which promotes the interspersing of trees with crops to enhance biodiversity and provide ecosystem services; and zero/minimum tillage (9.7%) practices, which reduce soil erosion and improve soil health. The challenges smallholder farmers face in adapting to climate change include the lack of appropriate tools, unfamiliarity with techniques, and inadequate support: all of which exacerbate the uncertainty surrounding the future of farmers and agriculture. By building adaptive capacity and promoting climate-smart agricultural practices, the region can improve food security, reduce vulnerability, and enhance the livelihoods of farming communities. Sustained efforts should prioritize smallholder farmers’ active participation and empowerment in climate change adaptation initiatives.

Socio-economic Outcomes of Gendered Participation in Forest Management in Tanzania

2024-08-08T13:07:40+00:00

Prio to the 1980s, centralized forest management policies in many African countries, including Tanzania, excluded local communities, particularly women, from participating in the management of their forests. In response, participatory forest management (PFM) approaches—including community- based forest management (CBFM), and joint forest management (JFM)—were introduced to empower local communities to participate in forest management and benefit from their forests. Building on existing analysis that highlights more on the impact of PFM on forest conditions, governance and livelihood, this paper examines the socio-economic outcomes of gendered participation in forest management in Kilwa District, Tanzania. Through the feminist political ecology perspective, and utilizing a mixed method approach, it aims to assess the significance of gendered participation in CBFM for achieving improved socio- economic outcomes. The findings indicate that increased gendered participation in CBFM activities increases gendered awareness and understanding of forest- related issues, reduces gender-related conflicts, strengthens social networks and enhances equity in benefit-sharing at the community level. However, these are less achieved at the household level. The distribution of economic benefits to individuals has been hindered by the absence of a well-defined benefit sharing arrangements and the dominance of elites in capturing orest benefits. The paper concludes that increased gender participation in CBFM activities has more social benefits outcomes than economic benefits to women. It recommends revising forest regulations to ensure more economic benefits flow to individuals, thereby incentivizing active participation in forest management. Additionallly, gender specific interventions should be implemented to empower both men and women with alternative sources of income to enhance their economic wellbeing, while safeguarding the sustainability forest resources

Household Solid Waste Generation Patterns and Collection Systems in Urban Tanzania: A Case Study of Morogoro Municipality

2024-08-08T13:36:36+00:00

This paper examines household solid waste generation patterns and collection systems in Morogoro Municipality, Tanzania, utilizing a mixed research design combining quantitative and qualitative methods. A sample of 380 heads of households was randomly selected, and data were collected through surveys, in-depth interviews, and field observation. Quantitative data were analysed using SPSS, with Chi-square analyses revealing relationships between waste quantities and socio-demographic characteristics. Qualitative data were analysed through content analysis. The results indicate that food waste constitutes 66% of total waste, with compound sweepings and papers trailing at 20%. Most households (60%) generate 1–3kg of waste daily, yet face significant inconsistencies (74%) in waste collection schedules. Despite the common use of sacks (97%) for waste storage, an underperforming collection system results in uncertainty among residents, leading to roadside dumping. Notably, homeowners produce significantly higher quantities of waste (p<0.001), and larger family household sizes correlate with increased waste generation (p<0.000). The study unveils challenges in waste collection due to inadequate infrastructure and technology, resulting in environmental and health risks from waste accumulation in public areas. Recommendations include: investing in infrastructure and technology to enhance waste collection efficiency, increasing financial allocations through partnerships and grants, and launching public awareness campaigns for improved waste segregation, and adherence to collection schedules. Additionally, promoting sustainable recycling and composting practices is advised.

Road Transport Insecurity as Constraint to Agricultural Food Produce Marketing in Ilorin, Nigeria

2024-08-08T13:42:46+00:00

Efficient and reliable transportation is essential for facilitating the production, distribution and marketing of agricultural and other products. However, insecurity in many parts of Nigeria is resulting in the disruption of road transportation, thus restricting the movement of people and making the distribution and marketing of farm produce difficult. The study examined the effects of transport insecurity on the marketing of agricultural food produce in Ilorin, Nigeria. Agricultural produce traders (n = 125) were sampled from the six major produce markets in Ilorin metropolis using a simple random sampling technique. Data were collected through a questionnaire, and analysed using frequency counts, percentages and ranking. The results show that most of the agricultural products sold by traders are sourced from locations experiencing security challenges. Armed robbery was the major (64%) road transport security problem faced by traders. Insecurity on the roads had various effects, including the creation of fear for travel among the traders (85.6%), and a reduction in the quantity of produce available (79.2%). However, ranking of the effects showed that high cost of transport, higher selling prices and high cost at source markets were ranked 1st, 2nd and 3rd, respectively. The major coping strategies adopted by traders included avoiding night travel (31.2%), and changing to safer locations to buy produce (22.4%). It is recommended that the government should improve security on Nigerian roads and develop other modes of transport to reduce overdependence on road transportation.

The Impact of Climate Change on Livelihoods of Communities Adjacent to Protected Areas in the Ruaha-Rungwa Landscape

2024-08-08T13:48:45+00:00

Despite their significant role in economic, environmental, ecological and socio-cultural development, most protected areas (PAs) in Tanzania have been affected by various challenges emanating from climate change. This paper examines the impact of climate change on the livelihoods of communities living adjacent to the Ruaha National Park and Rungwa Game Reserves. Data for this paper were generated from a study that adopted a mixed research design; under which 234 respondents obtained through a random sample were involved in household surveys, 110 key informants were strategically involved in face- to-face interviews and 44 participants were purposively involved in focus group discussions to create a wider space for understanding the studied phenomenon. The results indicate that climate change has had adverse impacts on the livelihoods of communities, particularly affecting water sources for domestic use, crop production, livestock keeping, human health and human migration. The communities have adapted to the impact of climate change by adopting various strategies including growing drought-tolerant crops, practicing irrigation systems, migrating to new settlements, and practicing agro-pastoralism. However, non-climatic factors such as poor storage facilities, inadequate pest control methods and crop processing facilities; as well as means of transport used in farming activities, market information and soil fertility have limited the adaptive capacities of communities. Thus, due to the significant impacts of climate change and variability, efforts are needed to ensure that communities adjacent to protected areas adapt sustainably, and are resilient to the impacts of climate change and variability.

Socio-economic Challenges Deterring Sustainable Pastoralism Among Women Pastoralists in the Sahel Region of Northern Nigeria

2024-08-08T14:05:20+00:00

Female pastoralists exhibit great strength in the drive to make a dependable livelihood from livestock tending. This is not without challenges that are gender- specific. This paper examines the socio-economic and environmental challenges faced by women pastoralists in the Sahelian Region of Northern Nigeria. Primary data were derived from an interview of 2,290 adult female household members in 6 local government areas in Bauchi and Gombe States in Nigeria. A stepwise regression analysis determined that amongst 23 socio-economic variables, 14 were significant explanatory or predictive variables (p < 0.05) for the socio- economic status of women, as a measure of their capacity to sustain pastoralism. The results indicate that the length of time or experience in pastoralism had the most predictive power (β = 0.31; p < 0.05), and contributed 13% (R2 = 0.13) in enhancing the socio-economic status of pastoralist women. This was followed by other socio-economic factors such as the level of formal educational attained, participation in household livestock raising, ownership of large livestock, climate change awareness, prevalence of out-of-school children within the household, availability of household transportation means, category of health care facility accessed, involvement in non-agricultural economic sectors, involvement in food crop farming, ownership of small livestock, amount of rest/sleep affordable, membership of community development groups, and age. The paper recommends support for female education in pastoral communities, access to health care in remote areas, and upgrading community development groups to cooperative or self-help groups that can provide affordable loans to assist pastoralist women in thriving better in a supposedly male-dominated profession.