PhD Theses

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Browsing PhD Theses by Subject "Agriculture"

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    The animal economy of prehistoric farming communities in manicalani), eastern zimbabwe
    (University of Dar es Salaam,, 2011) Shenjere, Plan
    The thesis sought to understand the animal economy of prehistoric farming communities in Manicaland, eastern Zimbabwe. It was done within archaeozoological and culture historical methodological frameworks by exploring diachronic as well as synchronic patterns of both wild and domestic animal resource utilization. Both quantitative and qualitative research approaches were used. Quantitative research approach was employed in archaeological surveys and excavations during data collection. Faunal, pottery, beads and other data were quantitatively analysed whilst results from ethnographic inquiries were qualitatively analysed. The research strategies were exploratory and comparative. The study has revealed that from the 5th to the 9th centuries AD, EFC’s animal economy was dominated by rearing of small livestock supplemented by few cattle as well as hunting, snaring and gathering. Later Farming Communities associated with socio-political complexity in the 2nd millennium AD had an animal economy that indicated preponderance on cattle with a few small stocks supplemented by minimal hunting. Animal exploitation trends were influenced by the environment, exploitative technology coupled up with human adaptability including communities’ choices against their belief systems and worldview. New data has also revealed that Early Farming Communities in eastern Zimbabwe date from the 3rd to 5th centuries extending into AD 9th century, a much longer period than previously thought. Stable isotope analysis suggests a wetter environment when both sites were occupied than it exists in the areas today. Faunal studies are invaluable in understanding prehistoric human behaviour. In order to fully understand economic, socio-cultural, political histories and trajectories of past communities, their use of animals need to be accorded similar attention to all other archaeological materials.
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    Rice farming and environmental change in the Usangu plains, Tanzania, 1920s–2000
    (University of Dar es Salaam, 2017) Ambindwile, George Katoto
    Agricultural practices in Africa have changed enormously in rcent decades with varied outcomes on human development and the environment. This thesis explored the ways and patterns in which irrigated rice farming practices caused environmental changes in Tanzania from the 1920s to 2000, using the Usangu Plains as a case study. It examined the relationship between these changes and the political and socio-economic situation, technology, livelihood and the environment over a period of eight decades. Political ecology and historical ecology formed the theorectical frameworks of this study. Drawing on a wide range of colonial and post-colonial archival records, oral reminiscences and secondary sources, the thesis argues that the changing historical circumstances which were associated with rice farming such as colonialism, the adoption of the Chinese Green Revolution and economic liberalization affected the way in which the people utilized water and land, thus causing environmental problems such as the scarcity of water, pollution, deforestation, wild rice invasion and reduction of soil fertility. It also presents various coping strategies which the peasants in the plains intelligently adopted to minimize the impact of environmental change wrought by rice farming. The strategies included rice transplanting; the adoption of a double-field system; and the decomposition of rice stalks, green grass and husks to produce manure. By exploring peasant coping strategies, this thesis makes an important contribution by going beyond the studies that have privileged the active role of the state, corporations and large-scale capital intensive schemes in the development of agriculture as well as in the management of the environment. It does so by demonstrating that the peasants in the Usangu Plains were agents who made their own history by transforming their circumstances, including the environment, through their own material production and ideas.