Vulnerability and Responses of Smallholder Farmers to Climate Change Effects in Semiarid Areas of Bahi and Kongwa Districts, Tanzania
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Date
2021-11
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Publisher
University of Dar salaam
Abstract
This study examined the vulnerability and responses of smallholder farmers to climate change
effects in Semiarid Areas of Bahi and Kongwa Districts. A total of 366 household heads were
involved in this study. The study employed questionnaire, interviews and documentary review as
data collection techniques. Archival data for temperature, rainfall and crop yields were collected
for trend analysis. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse quantitative data,
content analysis was employed to analyse qualitative data. Simple linear trend analysis and Mann
Kendall were used to establish trends. The findings indicate that smallholder farmers in the study
area have noted reduced rainfall, increased temperature and reduced production as indicators of
climate change. Results from archival data indicate insignificant decline of rainfall, significant
increase of temperature and insignificant decline of crop yields at 5% significance level. As a
response to these changes, smallholder farmers reported to use improved crop varieties, change
planting dates, use intercropping, out-migrating and change land use practices. Several challenges
were reported to hinder effective adaptation including inadequate capital, limited soft loans,
limited weather information and deficient extension services. It is concluded that the climate is
changing in the study area calling for strengthening farmers’ adaptive capacity.
Description
Keywords
Adaptive strategies, climate change effects, challenges, semiarid area, Tanzania
Citation
1. Myeya, H. E. (2021). Vulnerability and Responses of Smallholder Farmers to Climate Change Effects in Semiarid Areas of Bahi and Kongwa Districts, Tanzania. Tanzania Journal of Science, 47(4), 1424-1435.