Socio-ecological resilience of agro-pastoralists to climate change and variability impacts a case of Bariadi district, Simiyu region

This study assessed the socio-ecological resilience of agro-pastoralists to climate change impacts in Bariadi district. Purposive and random sampling procedures were applied and a sample size of 12% was studied in Ibulyu and Mahaha villages. Study methods included focus group discussions, key informant interviews, household interviews, field observations and wealth ranking. The findings indicates that agro-pastoralists are aware that climate is changing as characterized by decrease in rainfall intensity, late onset of rainfall, uneven distribution of rainfall and temperature increase. Consequently, it has affected agricultural production system, hence increasing the vulnerability of agro pastoralists. Due to variations in ownership and access to livelihood assets among agro-pastoralists, three socio-economic groups of poor, medium and rich group were classified, each group pursue multiple climate change and variability adaptation strategies which ranges from farm to off farm activities, social linkages as well as short term coping strategies.. However, the poor group which comprises 68.5% of all households in the study area has low adaptive capacity and more vulnerable to impacts of climate change than the medium and rich households, this is due to limitation to ownership and access to livelihood assets hence, pursue more short term coping strategies. Therefore, there is a need for introduction of agricultural subsidies and capacity building programmes on sustainable agricultural practices. Also, livelihood diversification should be emphasized to integrate both farm and off farm activities.