Population pressure and land degradation in Tanzania: a case study of Arumeru district, Arusha region

The deterioration of the quality of land resources in Arumeru District has been attributed to population growth and the pressure it exerts on these resources. However, peoples responses to situations of pressure on resources suggest a dichotomy of outcomes: either enhancement of the land - support system, or its disruption, leading to aggravation of both population pressure and land degradation. The outcomes are much determined by the demographic and socio-economic factors which influence in diverse ways the modes of resource utilization and management. Therefore, strategic plans or measures to tackle the problem of pressure on resources and to enhance sustainable agricultural development demand an understanding of such factors in the society in question. This study sought to identify and establish as well as explain the demographic and socio-economic factors that are contributing to increase in population pressure and degradation of land resources in Arumeru District. It also mapped four villages in two agro-economic zones as areas of pressure points and documented the land-use changes that had occurred since 1961. Data were collected through interviews, documentary reviews, discussions and field observations. Part of the analysis included using Moore's (1971) carrying capacity model to calculate the carrying capacity and population-land ratios and the x2 test was used to relationships among the varibales. The findings show that Arumeru experience acute pressure on the land, with a population - land ratio of between 0.24 and 0.65. Worse, the innovative capability of the population in attempting to reduce the pressure on resources is constrained by such problems as: lack of capital for the innovations, inappropriate government policies, unfavourable land tenure systems, and above all poverty. Furthermore, market forces and improvements in lifestyle, together with the increase in population size, has, in different ways, resulted into activities that are compounding the problem of land degradation in the district. The main conclusion from the study is that pressure on land resources in Arumeru District is worsening. Land degradation is continuing because the obtaining demographic and socio-economic factors work in sets of combinations to aggravate the problem. In order for the residents and planners and other decision makers to tackle the problem on a practical and sustainable basis, especially in containing the rapid population growth rate, and reducing the resultant pressure on resources, several recommendations are put forward: (1)there must be improvements in the facilitation of appropriate modes of resource utilization; (2)strategies have to be initiated to make available land resources to the poor peasants who are increasingly becoming landless; (3)there is need to control and/or stop further land alienation in the district; (4)farmers must be educated on appropriate farming practices and land management strategies; and (5)more research must be carried out to get a better and an in-depth understanding of the problem in view of future development plans.