BSTRACT
This study aimed at assessing the impact of climate change on traditional irrigation
farming systems and adaptation strategies was conducted in Lushoto District. The
specific objectives were to establish the trend and magnitude of climate change in
the study area for the past 30 years (1985-2014), to assess the impact of climate
change on crop yield in Ndiwa and Chamazi traditional irrigation farming systems,
to analyse the way traditional irrigation farmers‘ adapt to climate change and to
develop decision guide for adaptation to climate change in traditional irrigation
farming systems. A cross-sectional explanatory research design encompassing both
purposive and systematic random sampling was adopted for this study. The study
sample comprised with 380 households, 48 members of Focus Group Discussion
(FGD) and 15 key informants. Primary data from household heads and key
informants were collected through questionnaire survey, FGDs, interviews and the
researcher‘s observations while secondary data were collected through documents
reviews including annual reports from District Agriculture Irrigation and
Cooperative Offices and weather reports of the study area for the past 30 years from
Tanzania Meteorological Agency (TMA). Descriptive statistics such as mean,
frequency and percentages were computed to establish the trends and magnitude of
climate change using SPSS and MS-Excel programs. Cross tabulation between
rainfall and crop yield trends was used to establish the impact of climate change on
crop yields.Descriptive statistics such as mean, frequency, percentages and Analytic
Hierarchy Process (AHP) analysis were performed to identify most feasible
adaptation strategies and adaptive capacity of farmers. Decision guide for adaptation
to climate in traditional irrigation farming systems was developed inorder to
integrate the challenges of climate change and those related to adaptive capacity to
enhance adaptation actions.
The results show that for the past 30 years (1985-2014) climate variables such as
annual mean (minimum and maximum) temperature and annual mean rainfall have
been increasing and decreasing respectively in fluctuating patterns. For the past 30
years, annual mean (minimum and maximum temperature) have increased by 0.83oC
and 2.4oC respectively and annual mean rainfall have decreased by 803mm. Climate
change has affected crop yield in Ndiwa and Chamazi traditional irrigation systems
through decrease amount of water for irrigation, outbreak of crop diseases, pests and
insects. Farmers engaged in Ndiwa and Chamazi irrigation systems adopted different
adaptation strategies to combat the impact of climate change. These include
cultivating near water sources, crop diversification, digging of shallow wells and
application of pesticides. However, the adaptive capacity to climate change for
Ndiwa farmers was 41.6% indicating moderate adaptive capacity while that of
Chamazi farmers was 23.6% indicating low adaptive capacity. The decision guide
for adaptation to climate change for traditional irrigation farming systems was finally
proposed with an intention of facilitating Ndiwa and Chamazi farmers to select
appropriate adaption actions to the impact of climate change.
It has been recommended that the government and other stakeholders should extend
their efforts more to help the farmers engaged in Ndiwa and Chamazi irrigation
systems to improve their adaptative capacity to climate change. They should
especially help farmers to access the following; climate informations, land and
security of tenure, water sources, and financial resources, agricultural inputs,
agricultural extension services and improved transport and irrigation infrastructures.
The government, particularly the local government authority of Lushoto, should also
sensitize farmers to establish and strengthen the farmer based organizations. The
central government and other stakeholders should further help in improving
irrigation farming and the coordination between crop research centers, extension and
farmers.
MARO, F (2021). The Impact Of Climate Change To Smallholder Farmers And Adaptation Strategies: The Case Of Traditional Irrigation Farming Systems In West Usambara Highlands. Afribary. Retrieved from https://tracking.afribary.com/works/the-impact-of-climate-change-to-smallholder-farmers-and-adaptation-strategies-the-case-of-traditional-irrigation-farming-systems-in-west-usambara-highlands
MARO, FREDY "The Impact Of Climate Change To Smallholder Farmers And Adaptation Strategies: The Case Of Traditional Irrigation Farming Systems In West Usambara Highlands" Afribary. Afribary, 26 Apr. 2021, https://tracking.afribary.com/works/the-impact-of-climate-change-to-smallholder-farmers-and-adaptation-strategies-the-case-of-traditional-irrigation-farming-systems-in-west-usambara-highlands. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
MARO, FREDY . "The Impact Of Climate Change To Smallholder Farmers And Adaptation Strategies: The Case Of Traditional Irrigation Farming Systems In West Usambara Highlands". Afribary, Afribary, 26 Apr. 2021. Web. 22 Dec. 2024. < https://tracking.afribary.com/works/the-impact-of-climate-change-to-smallholder-farmers-and-adaptation-strategies-the-case-of-traditional-irrigation-farming-systems-in-west-usambara-highlands >.
MARO, FREDY . "The Impact Of Climate Change To Smallholder Farmers And Adaptation Strategies: The Case Of Traditional Irrigation Farming Systems In West Usambara Highlands" Afribary (2021). Accessed December 22, 2024. https://tracking.afribary.com/works/the-impact-of-climate-change-to-smallholder-farmers-and-adaptation-strategies-the-case-of-traditional-irrigation-farming-systems-in-west-usambara-highlands