Assessment of the role of farmers’ local-traditional knowledge in adaptation to effects of climate variability and change in Ludewa.
Loading...
Date
2017
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Dar es Salaam
Abstract
Smallholder farmers constitute a significant portion of the world’s population that is vulnerable to climate variability and change. These farmers derive their livelihoods from agriculture which heavily relies on rainfall as a source of water for crops production. Therefore, they are exposed to changes in rainfall patterns, temperature variation and extreme events like floods and drought that are translated into disasters. In this case adaptation strategies are fundamental to reduce the impacts of climate variability and change. Although government’s emphases have been placed in formal modern knowledge of adaptation and farming systems, in most cases they are not accessible and affordable to most smallholder farmers. Farmers have their local knowledge that they use to adapt. This study uncovers the role of smallholder farmers’ local knowledge in adaptation to climate variability and change in Ludewa district. The study used qualitative and quantitative research methods. A total of 355 heads of households were interviewed in eight villages. Documentary reviews, unstructured interview, focus group discussion, in-depth interview and field observation were employed in data collection. It was found that farmers had their local ways of weather forecasting based on their experience and interactions with their environment. About 96% of farmers revealed that there was a decrease in rainfall while 72% indicated an increase in temperature. Climatic change and variability have negatively impacted on farmers’ livelihood activities particularly crop production. The impacts included low yield, spread of pests and diseases, drying of seedlings, stunted growth of crops and the decay and drying of crops and inundation of crops by floods. Thus, increase of incidence of hunger and food shortage particularly in the lowland areas. To reduce vulnerability to climate variability farmers employed local-traditional adaptation strategies such as use of local weather forecasts, valley bottom cultivation, diversification of crops, early preparation of farms, and use of drought tolerant crops and diversification of economic activities and soil moisture conservation methods such as mulching. This is largely due to the fact that the use of modern adaptation techniques were influenced by level of income and technology, inadequate infrastructure, access to market and information credit and extension services. It is concluded that smallholder farmers have diverse local-traditional knowledge to adapt to climate variability. That local-traditional knowledge helps farmers to withstand the impacts of climate variability when formal knowledge is not feasible. Therefore, it is paramount to take into consideration the local-traditional knowledge in the design of adaptation plans to anticipated climate change. This is because neither local-traditional knowledge nor formal-modern knowledge is sufficient on its own right for sustainable adaptation.
Description
Available in print form, EAF Collection, Dr. Wilbert Chsgula Library, (THS EAF S600.7.C54T34M563)
Keywords
Crops and climate, Climate changes, Ludewa district, Tanzania
Citation
Mlengule, D (2017) Assessment of the role of farmers’ local-traditional knowledge in adaptation to effects of climate variability and change in Ludewa, Masters dissertation, University of Dar es Salaam