Kulanga, Stanley Gama2022-05-122022-05-122020Kulanga, S. G. (2020)Implications of social enterprises on the adaptive capacity of small holder farmers to climatic stresses. The case of Kilolo District, Tanzania,Masters dissertation, University of Dar es Salaam, Dar es Salaam.http://41.86.172.12:8090/xmlui/handle/123456789/16623Available in print form, Eat Africana Collection, Dr. Wilbert Chagula Library,(THS EAF QC 981.8.C5T34.K853)This study was conducted in Kilolo district with the aim of understanding the contribution of agricultural social enterprises in enhancing the adaptive capacity of the small; holder farmers to the impacts of climate change and variability. Specifically this study sought to assess the role of agricultural social enterprises in supporting smallholder farmers to address climatic and non-climatic stresses, determine the capacity levels among smallholder farmers engaging and those who were not engaging with agricultural social enterprises to adapt to climate change and variability and lastly, examine challenges and opportunities for agricultural social enterprises operating in the study area .This study involved 90 households whereby household heads/representatives were used as respondents . The primary data for this study were collected through household questionnaires, key informant interviews and focus group discussions, whereas the secondary data were collected through a review of literature related to this study and from Iringa meteorological station for mean annual rainfall and temperature data for the past 30 years (1989 fo2019 ).Statistical product and Service Solution (SPSS) version 20 was used to analyze quantitative data collected through household questionnaire, while mean annual rainfall and temperature trend data were analyzed by using Microsoft Excel 2007.The qualitative data which was collected through focus group discussion and key informant interviews was analyzed though content analysis Tables and figures were used to present the analyzed data .The findings revealed that the agricultural social enterprise supported smallholder farmers to address climatic and non –climatic stresses by providing input-extension service to its customers and consequently, led to an increase of average maize production per acre by 54.5 %.Similarly, this study found that the agricultural social enterprise enhanced the adaptive capacity of the smallholder famers, since the services it provided influenced the functioning of the determinants of adaptive capacity such as social capital, economic resource technology awareness and training institution and infrastructure. Furthermore this study found that limited purchasing power of the famers and marketenClimatic changeClimatology and weathersmall holder farmersKilolo districtTanzaniaThesis