The effect of climate variability on cereal crop production in the semiarid area of Dodoma region, Tanzania, 1984 – 2011
| dc.contributor.author | Myeya, Helena Elias | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2020-04-09T14:20:10Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2020-04-09T14:20:10Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2016 | |
| dc.description | Available in print form, East Africana Collection, Dr. Wilbert Chagula Library, Class mark (THS EAF SB192.T34M93) | en_US |
| dc.description.abstract | Cereal grains in semiarid areas are vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate variability. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of climate variability on cereal crop production in the semiarid area of Dodoma region. Mixed method research approach was employed to collect both quantitative and qualitative data. Primary data was collected through household socio-economic survey where 366 heads of household and 36 key informants were involved. Secondary data of temperature, rainfall, cultivated land, cereal crop production and remote sensing was collected from the relevant institutions. Focus group discussions, in-depth interviews, documentary review and site visits were used to collect data. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 20), Stata computer package 11 and Excel 2010 were used in analysing quantitative data from the socio-economic survey and archival sources. The land use/cover change was performed using ArcGIS10 software system. A post-classification comparison method was used for land use/cover change detection. Linear trend analysis and Mann-Kendall test were employed in determining the trends of temperature, rainfall, cultivated land and crops production. The study further applied multiple regression analysis to assess the correlation between temperature, rainfall and crop yields. In analysing qualitative data, content analysis with the support of Nvivo software version 10 was applied. Results from this study indicate an increase in temperature and decrease in rainfall as perceived by smallholder farmers and verified by archival data. Moreover, the study results have revealed increased trends in crop cultivated land size and annual crop production. The results on multiple regression analysis indicate both positive and negative relationship between temperature, rainfall and cereal crop yields. As a response to increased temperature, reduced rainfall and decline in crop yields, smallholder farmers have used diverse strategies such as growing heat tolerant crops, practice intercropping, shifting the planting dates increase farm size and involvement into income generating activities. Various stakeholders were identified in facilitating the implementation of climate variability adaptation measures through distribution of crop seeds, provision of small loans and awareness creation on good farming techniques. It is concluded that climate variability is evident in the study area as observed through increased temperature, reduced rainfall and decline in crop yields. This calls for more viable adaptation strategies. It is recommended to use an integrated approach of involving different institutions to support climate variability adaptation strategies in semiarid areas so as to increase their resilience to withstand the climate variability effects. | en_US |
| dc.identifier.citation | Myeya, H. E. (2016) The effect of climate variability on cereal crop production in the semiarid area of Dodoma region, Tanzania, 1984 – 2011, Doctoral dissertation, University of Dar es Salaam, Dar es Salaam | en_US |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://41.86.178.5:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/9245 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | en_US |
| dc.publisher | University of Dar es Salaam | en_US |
| dc.subject | Cereals | en_US |
| dc.subject | Grain | en_US |
| dc.subject | Climatic changes | en_US |
| dc.subject | Semiarid areas | en_US |
| dc.subject | Dodoma region | en_US |
| dc.subject | Tanzania | en_US |
| dc.title | The effect of climate variability on cereal crop production in the semiarid area of Dodoma region, Tanzania, 1984 – 2011 | en_US |
| dc.type | Thesis | en_US |