Browsing by Author "Juma, Kashimbi"

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    Study of socio-economic and land use changes in the catchment of lake Jipe
    (University of Dar es Salaam, 2006) Juma, Kashimbi
    This study investigated effects of climatic (mainly rainfall) variations and changes of lake characteristics on economic activities within the catchment of Lake Jipe located in the Tanzania/Kenya border. Statistical analyses were used to characterise rainfall seasonality and rainfall anomalies were used to distinguish drought, normal and wet years. These rainfall changes were related to lake fluctuations and changes of the economic activities practised and activity yield in normal, drought and wet years. Results indicated well defined bimodal rainfall regime with relatively equal peaks in November and April with the former peak defining the peak of the short rains (Vuli) and the latter that of the long rains (Masika). Rainfall anomalies indicated extremely wet year t961 and 1997 and drought 1974-1976 and 2005 which were mainly affected by the changes of the Vuli rains rather than Masika rains. Analysis of economic activities indicated that agriculture, fishery and livestock keeping were the main economic activities complemented by commerce with agriculture predominating. Consequently, communities were distinguished as either agricultural, fishing or pastoral depending on which main activity is predominant. Production in the three main economic activities varied between communities and were affected by rainfall variations. Wet years experienced high crop productions. fish catches and large numbers of livestock while drought years experienced the opposite. It was further identified that famine was related to erratic Vuli rains with the greatest effects felt when these rains are completely missing The land use changes analysis revealed that the forest and water, lady areas have decreased while the areal coverage of grassland and waterweeds have increased between 1976 and 2001. The main causes identified were deforestation and agricultural expansion which have resulted in high sedimentation rates and the consequential shrinking and swallowing of the lake. Moreover. the reduction of the forest cover has contributed to the reduction of water availability for economic.