Browsing by Author "Mwamfupe, Asubisye Obel"

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    Assessment of local perceptions and potential roles of local institutions in climate change adaptation in Rufiji district, Tanzania
    (University of Dar es Salaam, 2014) Mwamfupe, Asubisye Obel
    Farming households in Rufiji district are vulnerable to adverse effects of climate change as they depend on climate-sensitive agriculture for income and food security. Recurrent droughts, changing rainfall patterns, and increasing temperature have been associated with low crop productivity, food shortage and poverty among farming households. Adaptation to perturbations is historical and inevitably local. Local institutions are important in the climate change adaptation as they structure the distribution of climate risks impact, constitute and organize local adaptive responses as well as mediating the same with extra-local institutions. Knowledge on farmers’ adaptive responses and the potential roles of locally based local institutions in the adaptations is crucial in managing and sustaining farming livelihoods amid the changing climate. However, such knowledge is scant. The attempt to fill this gap of knowledge informs the main objective of this study. Specifically, the study aimed at assessing farmers’ perceptions of climate change; assessment of farmers’ vulnerability to climate change impacts; assessing determinants of farmers’ adaptation behaviors; and assessing potential roles of local institutions in facilitating adaptation. Methodological approaches were defined within the mixed-method research design whereby a triangulation of qualitative and quantitative methods was used to collect data from 456 respondents. Quantitative analysis involved using IBM SPSS v. 19 including logit model and qualitative involved content analysis and in some instances NVIVO software. The findings revealed that the majority of farmers perceive long-term changes in temperature and precipitation implying that their areas are increasingly becoming drier and warmer. The study indicates that farming households are vulnerable to climate change impacts such as increased drought frequencies, prevalence of crop disease and pests. These impacts lead to decline in crop production and thus affect household incomes and food security. Farmers; generally respond by adapting at the farm level and household level through the changing of crops, planting dates, livelihood diversification, and storage. The determinants of adaptation have been household characteristics and institutional factors which determine access to information, extension services, and adequate agricultural credits. Despite having several institutions in their communities, most farmers are not integrated in utilization of the potential that local institutions have in order to effectively adapt to climate change. The study concludes that climate change is real in Rufiji as perceived by farmers in respective village. The recommends that in order to improve the role of local institutions in and smallholder farmers’ adaptation to climate change local institutions need to be supported by the government and other stakeholders so that they adequately enable farmers access services and resources necessary for adaptation.