Land management measures and their impact on household food security in Tanzania

The study investigated the impact of land management measures on household food security in Dodoma rural areas. The study was conducted in Mvumi division and two villages were surveyed; namely Ndebwe and Mvumi Mission involved the total of 110 respondents. Data were collected through questionnaires and interviews then analyzed using (SPSS) for qualitative data in which the results supported, supplemented and enriched the quantitative results. The study found that the majority of respondents involved in crop farming and mainly used inorganic fertilizers and ox- plough for crop production. Apart from using their crops for food majority of them sold their food crops mainly for the immediate cash needs. Since nearly all members of the family were involved in the farm work, the major sources of food were from their own production. Major agricultural constraint was soil infertility and drought although production trend over a period of 5 years had increased. This was due to increased use of inorganic fertilizers and other farm inputs. But food produced was not enough to reach the next harvesting period hence food insecurity was a recurring phenomenon. Farmers mentioned that food security could be improved by increasing crop production, but unfortunately farmers faced various food storage problems especially fungus and rodents. The majority of the farmers claimed to collect wild food plants especially during food shortages. Many of the farmers used all techniques available for land management such as tree planting, contour ridges and destocking. The overall study found that the impact of land management measures on household food security to be a success. Land management measures required enabling policies and institutional arrangements to encourage intensification of the smallholder farming systems. This could include means such as increasing proper use of inorganic and organic soil amendments, development of low-cost soil cover and water harvesting techniques and strengthening local organization and extension services. Land management required taking into account land users' perspectives, local variations in ecology and socio¬cultural conditions. Yet, others were incorporating proven indigenous practices and knowledge into technical approaches, and ensuring local participation in decision¬making. This study recommended that the government, non-governmental organizations and individuals should target the poor rural people and improve their household food security. It is further recommended that there should be government policy interventions to sensitize people on the use and preservation of wild foods as substitutes for domesticated ones. Nutritive values for different wild food items be assessed and used to improve food and nutrition security. The study recommended conducting studies on local knowledge and documenting it before it is lost through modernization as well as a need of ensuring local participation in decision making, There is also a need of total political and resource commitment on converting agricultural development agendas, environment and poverty control into genuine action on the ground.