Coping with induced effects of climate changeand variability a case study of agricultural communities in Kilosa district, Tanzania

Climate change and variability is now a threat to human survival. Its impact is felt in many areas such as in agriculture, water, ecosystems, people and biodiversity. Climate change has affected agricultural production in many areas in Tanzania. As other parts, Kilosa district is one of the areas where climate change has affected agricultural production. Due to impacts of climate change and variability, adaptation has become necessary. This study was set to identify coping mechanisms to climate change induced effects in agriculture activities in Kilosa district, Morogoro region in Tanzania. The study examined how small-scale farmers in the study area respond to impacts of climate change and variability in their agricultural activities. Multiple data collection methods were used to collect both secondary and primary data for this study. Secondary sources involved printed and electronic documentary reviews. Primary data were collected through questionnaires, interviews, focus group discussion and observations. Microsoft spss and excel ware used to analyze temperature and rainfall data over 30 years through descriptive method. The main findings of the study revealed that agricultural activities in the study area are affected by climate change and variability challenges such as seasonal change of rainfall, , increased droughts and floods, decreased rainfall and increase of crop pests and diseases. All these have affected agriculture by decreasing production. Coping mechanisms to the impacts of climate change and variability have not increased crop production but have helped farmers to survive.