Climate change: Its implications on urban and peri-urban agriculture in Dar es Salaam city, Tanzania

Abstract

Climate change is one of the challenges facing the world today. This study examined the impact of climate change on urban and peri-urban agriculture. Secondary data were collected through a literature survey and primary data were collected using structured and in-depth interviews, observations and focus group discussions. A total of 201 respondents who engaged in urban and peri-urban agriculture (UPA) in Dar es Salaam city were interviewed. The findings revealed that urban and peri-urban agriculture make a positive contribution to food security as 84% of the respondents claimed to engage in UPA for food and income. It was also observed that urban and peri-urban agriculture was affected by climate change, leading to drying of crops (41%), crop pests and diseases (28%), decrease in crop yields (13%), loss of soil fertility (8%), animal diseases (43%), drying of pasture lands (41%) and death of livestock (16%). It is evident that urban and peri-urban agriculture is severely affected by climate change. The study recommends that new farming systems such as vertical farming with the use of limited water resources should be adopted for better output.