Impact of climate change and variability on household food availability : the case of Kabindi and Kikomakoma villages in Biharamulo District Kagera Region

Globally, climate change and variability is becoming a mushrooming factor that affects agricultural sector development, particularly among the small farmers household. The impacts of climate change and variability and its associated impacts on food availability were studied in Kabindi and Kikomakoma villages in Biharamulo District –Kagera Region in Tanzania. Tanzania has experienced severe impacts of climate change and variability including an extreme drought and flood events that have resulted the decline of peoples livelihood and drastic change of the national income such as shortage of food availability and loss of livestock due to the outbreak of various of diseases that affect livestock sector and insufficient water and pasture resources for both agricultural development and nourishment of livestock sectors. The objectives of the study were i). To examine the patterns and trends of climate (rainfall and temperature) and household perceptions ii). To assess the influence of rainfall and temperature patterns on crop production and food availability at household level iii).To determine different mechanisms for coping and adaptation to climate change impact undertaken by different households to improve food availability in the study area. Secondary data were collected through literature review of relevant documents as well as from Tanzania Meteorological Agency (TMA). Primary data were collected by using PRA methods such as the key informants interview focus group discussions and field observation household questionnaire survey. Findings from the study area has indicated decreasing of rainfall trends and changes in pattern between 1986 and 2016 while mean maximum and minimum temperature increased by 1oC in (1997/1998 and 2014/2015) respectively. Local people experienced various rainfall and temperature variations. Changes of climate and variability have affected agricultural and livestock production in different ways resulting in reduced productivity of livestock products such as milk, meat, butter etc, and severe vulnerability of small household farmer’s sustainability a factor that reflected a negative perceptions of climate change impacts and variability. The study also noted that variations in social groups thus the rich, middle and the poor reflect different levels of vulnerability and adaptation to the impacts of climate change and variability as well as their respective adaptation measures. The findings from the study have also revealed that farmers have pursued different coping and adaptation strategies to climate change impact including adjustment of meals, buying supplementary foods, selling household assets, growing fast maturing crops and practicing drought tolerant crops so as to sustain their livelihood as noted from the key informants and interviewed groups.The findings from the study anticipates to assist and develop new knowledge to decision and policy makers, researchers and academicians in developing further strategies towards coping and adaptations mechanisms on the prevailing climate change and variability impacts that affect the rain fed agriculture dependent’s for their livelihood.