An assessment of communication channels in delivery of climate change information to small scale farmers and pastoralists: a case of Kiteto District, Manyara Region, Tanzania

The study aimed at assessing communication channels in delivery of climate change information to small scale farmers and pastoralists: A case of Kiteto District, Manyara Region, Tanzania. The objectives of this study were to investigate on how weather and climate information is communicated and used by the small scale farmers and pastoralists, to identify and describe the dissemination pathways that the farmers and pastoralists in vulnerable environments find most useful for delivering climate information and support services to them, to explore the challenges that hinder effective communication and use of weather and climate information to small scale farmers and pastoralists, and to explore the opportunities that could support effective communication and use of weather and climate information to small scale farmers and pastoralists. The study is based on two types of data, which are secondary and primary data. The study used survey questionnaire, semi-structured and non-structured interviews to collect data from the respondents. The sampling procedures used were probability sampling and purposive sampling methods and the sample size was 180 households. All the primary data obtained were analyzed by using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The findings from this study indicate that dominant communication channels are the use of extension officers (83%) and radio (82%) this was noted to be attributed by their ability to afford to buy radios and batteries for their radios. The use of mobile phones as communication channel was noted to be 47% this is due to increase in number of people using mobile phones but in Kiteto District, especially in the village areas electricity/power supply hinders effective use of mobile phones as many small scale farmers and pastoralist households do not have electricity service at their homes. The study recommended that government and all other information providers should come up with measures to overcome the existing challenges facing farmers in accessing agriculture information.