Impact of climate change and variability on pastoral community livelihoods in Tanzania: a case of the 2009/2010 drought in Longido District

The study identified and explored on impacts of 2009/2010 drought; identified and documented responses to the impacts and assesses the implication of such responses on the environment and socio-economic life of the pastoralists in Longido district. The study employed mixed approach for data gathering. Purposive and Simple random sampling were employed to obtain a sample of 141 households. Methods for data collection were questionnaires, Key Informant Interviews and Focus Group Discussions. The study found that the main impact of drought in the area was death of livestock due to depletion of pastures as drought prolonged, pressure exerted on the resource as well as emergency of invasive species that suppress the growth of pastures. It was also noted that the major responses were; mobility, use of feed supplement including maize bran and hay, charcoal production, petty businesses and employment in cities and towns. However, mobility is restricted by policies in the country and the use of supplement constrained by higher prices. Further, results showed that the responses to the impacts had implications on social, economic and environmental aspects. Interaction in town and cities eroded the cultural values of Maasai pastoralists; however, the remittances accrued from jobs in town benefited other in rural areas. Charcoal production and tree cutting was revealed to degraded the forest and not sustainable livelihood options for pastoral communities in the face of climate change. The study recommends awareness raising on the importance of education in the study area, put in disaster preparedness and mitigation plans as well as provision of climate and weather forecasting information to communities to inform their adaptation to climate change. Further studies are required to explore on community planning for adaptation and disaster mitigation as well as integration of scientific and local knowledge for climate change adaptation and mitigation.