Browsing by Author "Liwenga, Emma T."

Now showing 1 - 12 of 12
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    Agricultural Commercialisation and Its Implications on Agrodiversity Management in the Drylands of Central Tanzania
    (African Journals Online, 2009) Liwenga, Emma T.; Kangalawe, Richard Y. M.; Masao, Catherine A.
    The study examines the linkages between agricultural commercialisation and agrodiversity management. It considers agricultural commercialisation an important socio-economic aspect with varied environmental implications, particularly in relation to agro-diversity management. The study was undertaken in Kondoa and Kongwa Districts, in the semiarid central Tanzania. The aim of this study was to examine the implications of agricultural commercialization on agro-diversity management, food security and the environment in general. A variety of methods were used in the study including participatory assessments techniques, field visits and household surveys. Household data was analysed using SPSS. The findings from this study indicate that for decades agricultural production in the semiarid areas of central Tanzania has been centred on production of a diverse number of crops though concentrated on sorghum and millets as the most drought tolerant grain crops. However, from the mid-1980s the balance has shifted in favour of cereal crops like maize, which has become among the major cash-earning crop. Other prominent commercial crops included pigeon peas, sunflower and simsim. Commercial crops appear to be expanding at the expense of traditional drought tolerant crops such as bulrush millet and sorghum, thereby influencing the local agro-diversity. The abandonment of some crops e.g. castor oil plants in favour of market crops also appear to affect the agrobiodiversity in the study areas. It has been found that expansion of farms is a major factor for environmental degradation through deforestation, declining soil fertility due to continuous cultivation and emergence of noxious weeds such as Striga. On the other hand agricultural commercialization appears to have been associated with improvement in food security, household income, housing conditions and education for children. However the emphasis of the less drought tolerant crops like maize in these semiarid areas makes the sustainability of the agricultural system very uncertain
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    Agricultural commercialization and the natural resource base in central Tanzania
    (Dar es Salaam University Press, Dar es Salaam, 2009) Liwenga, Emma T.; Kangalawe, Richard Y. M.
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    Changing Landscapes of the Maasai Steppe
    (LAP Lambert Academic Publishing, 2011-01-27) Senyagwa, Jacqueline; Liwenga, Emma T.; Kangalawe, Richard Y. M.
    The Maasai landscapes have been changing since colonial times. The drivers of change have been numerous from time to time and in recent years there have been significant changes in the land use and cover. The changes have brought alarming effects to the lives of pastoralists but have also affected crop cultivators and the ecosystem in general. Change is inevitable but what the changes mean for the ecosystems and communities is of great interest. Will the Maasai steppe be able to support animals and human beings in the next fifty years if we continue with the business as usual path and taking into account the impacts of climate change?
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    Livelihood diversification and implications on poverty and environment in the Lake Victoria Basin
    (Academic Journals, 2008-10-31) Kangalawe, Richard Y. M.; Liwenga, Emma T.; Kabumbuli, Robert; Walingo, Mary K.
    This paper on livelihood diversification is based on an ongoing study under VicRes programme being undertaken in the Lake Victoria Basin, in Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda. We examine how changing socio-economic and environmental conditions contribute to livelihood diversification, land-use changes, poverty reduction strategies and environmental conservation in the Lake Victoria Basin. The study was undertaken using both qualitative and quantitative methods. The qualitative methods included focused group discussions, key informant interviews and direct observations. Quantitative data were collected using a structured household questionnaire. Qualitative were analysed with the villagers by triangulation, while quantitative data were analysed using standard statistical methods. Findings from the study indicate that while agricultural production is prominent in the highland areas, the major activity in the lowland villages is fishing. Factors such as population increase, drought, and changes in macro and micro socio-economic conditions have resulted into livelihood diversification and land use changes in the Lake Victoria basin. Some of the livelihood activities influence the socio-economic dynamics, natural resource management, and the environment, leading to increased land degradation, low agricultural productivity, water pollution, food insecurity and poverty. The study also established decreasing trends in land availability over time attributed mainly to increasing population pressure and livelihood diversification.
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    Livelihoods in the wetlands of Kilombero Valley in Tanzania: Opportunities and challenges to integrated water resource management
    (Sciencedirect, 2005) Kangalawe, Richard Y. M.; Liwenga, Emma T.
    Wetlands contribute in diverse ways to the livelihood of many people in Africa. One of the major constraints to the wise use of African wetlands is lack of knowledge by planners and natural resource managers on the benefits that they provide and techniques by which they can be utilised in a sustainable manner. This paper presents findings from a study undertaken in Kilombero Valley, Tanzania, on the dynamics and benefits of natural resource use in the wetlands. The paper specifically focuses on opportunities and challenges related to integrated water resource management. The study was conducted in two villages, Idete and Signali located in Kilombero District, Morogoro Region. Participatory assessment and household interviews were employed to obtain both qualitative and quantitative information, respectively, pertaining to biophysical, agronomic and socio-economic facts that influence community access to, and utilisation of the wetland resources. The findings show that Kilombero Valley has high potential for a diversity of livelihood activities. The wetland also serves as a source of water for farming, livestock, fishing and for domestic uses. Over the last two decades the use of wetlands for agriculture has increased because of increasing population of both pastoral and agro-pastoral communities, and hence the resultant need to produce more food. However, there are environmental concerns associated with increasing use of wetlands for agriculture and other livelihood activities, including deforestation and trampling of soils by increasing livestock numbers, increased demand on the water resources and lack of elaborate institutional framework to facilitate the integration of the various sectoral and cross-sectoral uses of the wetland resources and among stakeholders. The main conclusion is that sustainable livelihood development of wetland communities requires multidisciplinary and integrated efforts in addressing constraints in the various sectors such as agriculture, natural vegetation use, water resources and fishing.
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    Migration, livelihoods and wetland resources: Experiences from Kilombero Valley, Tanzania
    (Dar es Salaam University Press, Dar es Salaam, 2009) Liwenga, Emma T.; Kangalawe, Richard Y. M.
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    Perceived impact of land use changes and livelihood diversification strategies of communities in the Lake Victoria Basin of Kenya
    (Academic Journals, 2009) Walingo, Mary K.; Liwenga, Emma T.; Kangalawe, Richard Y. M.; Madulu, Ndalhwa F.; Kabumbuli, Robert
    The changing environment and levels of resource endowment in the Lake Victoria Basin have necessitated increased human activities as a survival technique, in an attempt to reduce poverty levels and ensure food security at the household level. This study examined the dynamics in human activities of the local communities of the Lake Victoria Basin of Kenya. Participatory Research techniques were used to gather information from the respondents in the community on selected variables. It is apparent that the major constraints that have encouraged changes in the land use patterns and livelihood diversification were low education, poor agricultural technology and knowledge, environmental, economic, cultural and social factors. There were constraints such as decreased food crop yields [maize, beans, sweet potatoes] and low production levels, decreased food crop variety and diversity, reduced food and nutrient diversity, unsustainable changes in food consumption patterns, reduced sources of water and decreased water volume. There is a strong link between the traditional systems in natural resource management, besides re-afforestation, education on wetland use and management.
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    The poverty-environmental degradation nexus: Is there enough evidence?
    (1998) Rugalema, G. H.; Lugeye, S. C.; Kangalawe, Richard Y. M.; Liwenga, Emma T.
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    Status, Impact and Management of Invasive Alien Species in Tanzania
    (African Journals Online, 2009) Lyimo, J. G.; Kangalawe, Richard Y. M.; Liwenga, Emma T.
    Invasive alien species (IAS) are among the significant drivers of environmental change worldwide and important causes of biodiversity losses. They contribute to economic hardship and social instability, placing constraints on sustainable development, economic growth, and ecological problems in various parts of the world, including Tanzania. This study was undertaken to provide information on the status of invasive species and their management needs in Tanzania. The study used three methodological approaches including documentary search, interviews with relevant stakeholders and limited field visits. Findings from the study have indicated that the awareness, trends, distribution and impacts of the invasive alien species in Tanzania are variable, and similarly are the management and control requirements and practices for these species. Among the major impacts associated with the IAS in the country include loss of biodiversity, where in some cases has caused disappearance of certain species of fauna and flora, social and economic distress to human being due to the disappearance of plants and animal species that are regarded as important sources of livelihoods. The study shows that currently there is limited demonstrated capacity in terms of human and financial resources to address the issue of IAS, except for a few cases such as the water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) in Lake Victoria. In addition, there are no clearly defined long term strategies to address the issue of invasive species in many institutions. Experience shows that many of the legislations and policies dealing with biodiversity and/or resource management in the country do not directly address invasive alien species. This shortfall may be responsible for the inadequate attention being accorded to the management of invasive species. Thus for effective management of invasive alien species, policies and legislations should be encouraged to directly deal with invasive species. Such situation calls for integrated efforts including various institutional frameworks and collaborations.