The impact of climate variability on livelihood of pastoral communities in Longido district, Arusha region

This study investigated the impacts of climate variability while considering level of perception and awareness on climate variability and existing adaptation strategies on livelihood of pastoral communities from two villages selected in Longido district. Data were collected by using in-depth interviews, focus group discussion, household survey, field observation and secondary data such as maps and data from Tanzania Meteorological Agency. The data collected were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively, which further synthesized into simple tables, charts and graphs using Microsoft excel software. Qualitative data from in-depth interview and Focus Group Discussion (FGD) were analysed by explanation by picking the main points and conclusions reached by group members. The data from household survey were quantitatively analyzed using Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS) programme and Microsoft excel. This study found out that variation in climate has severe impacts on livestock keeping activities which affected the livelihood of people in the community and the whole district. These impacts leads to prolonged and frequent periods of drought which resulted to degraded rangeland resources leading to starvation, death and reduced of livestock production. However, people’s options and ability to make adjustments that increase their climate resilience are constrained by various social, economic, political and legal factors. Given the range of negative impact of current climate variability hazards on pastoralist livelihood, the implications of climate variability must be taken into account to ensure longer-term survival and sustainability of these communities. Governments and non-governmental organisations must in addition support the activities that pastoralists themselves are already undertaken in order to deal with climate variability. This requires an appreciation of how the climate has already varied in recent decades and what is projected to change in the decades to come.