Smallholder Farmers Awareness and Perceptions of Climate Change in Moshi Rural District, Tanzania
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61538/huria.v24i3.379Abstract
Farmers’ perception of climate change is a pre-requisite for undertaking adaptation actions. However little is known on how smallholder farmers in different agro ecological zones of Tanzania perceive climate change. This study examined the perception of climate change among smallholder farmers in different agro ecological zones of Moshi Rural district, Tanzania. Primary data were obtained from 359 household heads and 35 key informants. Data collection methods for this study were questionnaire survey, in-depth interviews, focus group discussions and observation. Questionnaires were administered to 359 household heads while in-depth interviews were administered to key informants. Historical data for rainfall and temperature were obtained from Tanzania Meteorological Agency. Analysis involved descriptive statistics for quantitative data and content analysis for qualitative data. Findings from this study revealed that majority (98.3%) of farming households were aware of climate change in terms of increasing temperature and reduced rainfall. Furthermore, 92.5 % of respondents perceived that temperatures have increased, while 74.9 % perceived that rainfall has decreased. However, these perceptions differed between the different agro ecological zones. Most farmers perceived that amounts and duration of rainfall had decreased. Rainfall has been more unpredictable, unevenly distributed, as well as starts late and ends early. Farmers perceived that the wet season is getting shorter because they perceived that currently, the wet season starts late. The study has indicated that majority of farmers are aware of climate change, but failed to understand the nature and extent of its impacts due to limited access to updated climate related information. Therefore, provision of timely, relevant and user-friendly climate information should strategically reach smallholder farmers.ÂReferences
Adger, W., Huq, S., Brown, K., Conway, D. and Hulme, M. (2003) ‘Adaptation to Climate Change in the Developing World’.
Progress in Development Studies, 3: 179-195.
Agrawala, S., Moehner, A., Hemp, A., Aalst, M.V., Hitz, S., Smith, J., Meena, H., Mwakifwamba, S. M., Hyera T. and Mwaipopo,
O.U. (2003). Development and Climate Change: Focus on Mount Kilimanjaro, OECD, Paris – France
Bele, M.Y., Sonwa, D.J. and Tiani, A.M. (2014). Local Communities Vulnerability to Climate Change and Adaptation Strategies in Bukavu in DR Congo. The Journal of Environment Development 23(3), 331–357.
Boko, M., Niang, I., Nyong, A., Vogel, C., Githeko, A., Medany, M., Osman-Elasha, B., Tabo, R. and Yanda, P. (2007) Climate
Change: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability. Contribution of Working Group II to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, M.L. Parry, O.F. Canziani, J.P. Palutikof, P.J. van der Linden and C.E. Hanson, Eds., Cambridge University Press, Cambridge UK, 433-467.
Bushesha, M.S. (2014). Assessing Perceptions of Climate Variability and Change among Farmers in Kyela District: A Quantqualitative Approach. Huria Journal 17: 122 – 142.
Deressa, T., Hassan, R. M., Alamo, T., Yusuf, M. and Ringler, C. (2008). Analyzing the determinants of farmers’ choice of adaptation methods and perceptions of climate change in the
Nile Basin of Ethiopia. IFPRI Discussion Paper, September 2008
Deressa, T.T., Hassan, R.M. and Ringler, C. (2011) Perception of and Adaptation to Climate Change by Farmers in the Nile Basin of
Ethiopia. Journal of Agricultural Science, 149: 23 – 31.
Fosu-Mensah, B.Y., Vlek, P.L.G., and MacCarthy, D.S. 2012: Farmers’ perception and adaptation to climate change: A case study of
Sekyedumase district in Ghana. Environment Development
Sustainability 14: 495–505.
Gbetibouo, G. A. (2009) Understanding farmers’ perceptions and adaptation to climate change and variability: The case of the
Limpopo basin, South Africa. IFPRI Discussion paper 00849, International Food Policy Research Institute: Washington DC
Habiba, U., Shaw, R. and Takeuchi, Y. (2012). Farmer’s perception and adaptation practices to cope with drought: Perspectives from Northwestern Bangladesh. International Journal of Disaster
Risk Reduction, 1: 72 – 84.
Hassan, R. and Nhemachena, C. (2008). Determinants of African farmers’ strategies for adapting to climate change:
Multinomial choice analysis, AfJARE 2 (1), 83 - 104.
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), (2007). Climate Change Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability, Contribution of Working Group II to the fourth Assessment Report of IPCC, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), (2014). Climate
Change 2014: Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability. Part B:
Regional Aspects. Contribution of Working Group II to the Fifth
Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [Barros, V.R., C.B. Field, D.J. Dokken, M.D. Mastrandrea, K.J. Mach, T.E. Bilir, M. Chatterjee, K.L. Ebi, Y.O. Estrada, R.C. Genova, B. Girma, E.S. Kissel, A.N. Levy, S. MacCracken, P.R. Mastrandrea, and L.L. White (eds.)]. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom and New York, NY, USA, XXX pp.
Kangalawe, R.Y.M., (2009). Impact of climate change on human health: Example of highland malaria - Mbeya Region. Study report submitted to the Division of Environment, Vice President’s Office, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Komba, C. and Muchapondwa, E. (2012). Adaptation to Climate Change by Smallholder Farmers in Tanzania. ERSA working paper 299
Lema, M. A. and Majule, A. E. (2009). ‘Impacts of climate change, variability and adaptation strategies on agriculture in semi arid areas of Tanzania: The case of Manyoni District in Singida Region, Tanzania’ in African Journal of Environmental Science and Technology 3 (8), 206-218.
Lyimo, J. G. and Kangalawe, R. Y. (2010). Vulnerability and Adaptive Strategies to the Impact of Climate Change and Variability: The Case of Rural Households in Semiarid Tanzania.
Environmental Economics, 1(2), 88-96.
Maddison, M. (2007). The Perception of and Adaptation to Climate Change in Africa, World Bank Policy Research Working Paper 4308. Available from www.ceepa.co.za/docs/CDPNo10.pdf, accessed on 23/03/2012.
Mboera, L.E.G., Mayala, B.K., Kweka, E.J. and Mazigo, H.D. (2011) Impact of climate change on human health and health systems in Tanzania: a review. Tanzania Journal of Health Research, Volume 13 (Suppl 1).
Meena, H.E. and O’Keefe, P., 2007: Sustainable Livelihoods in the context of Vulnerability and Adaptation to Climate Change Impacts in Tanzania: A Case Study of Kilimanjaro Region, CEEST Foundation Reports.
Mertz, O., Halsnaes, K., Olesen, J.E. and Rasmussen, K. (2009) Adaptation to Climate Change in Developing Countries.
Environmental Management, 43:743–752
Mongi, H., Majule, A.E. and Lyimo, J.G. 2010) Vulnerability and adaptation of rain fed agriculture to climate change and variability in semi-arid Tanzania. African Journal of
Environmental Science and Technology, 4(6), 371-381.
Mulangu, F. and Kraybill, D. (2013). Climate Change and the Future of Mountain Farming on Mt. Kilimanjaro. In Mann, S. (Ed.).
The Future of Mountain Agriculture. Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), (2014). Statistical Abstract 2013, National Bureau of Statistics, Dar es Salaam.
Ndesanjo, R., Ngana, J.O. and Yanda, P.Z., 2012: Climate Change Impacts and Adaptive Strategies in the Rufiji Delta, Tanzania. UTAFITI Journal of the College of Arts and Social Sciences, 9 (1 & 2), 59 – 73.
Nhemachena, C. and Hassan, R. (2007). Micro-level analysis of farmers’ adaptation to climate change in Southern Africaâ€. IFPRI Discussion Paper No. 00714. International Food Policy Research Institute, Washington, DC.
NOAA (2011). Cold and warm episodes by season, Climate Prediction Center
http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/analysis_monitoring/ ensostuff/ensoyears.shtml (Accessed on 23rd April 2015).
Nyanga, P.H., Johnsen, F.H., Aune, J.B. and Kalinda, T.H., 2011: Smallholder Farmers’ Perceptions of Climate Change and Conservation Agriculture: Evidence from Zambia. Journal of
Sustainable Development, Vol. 4, No. 4.
Okonya, J.S., Syndikus, K. and Kroschel, J., 2013: Farmers’ Perception of and Coping Strategies to Climate Change: Evidence From
Six Agro-Ecological Zones of Uganda. Journal of Agricultural Science. 5 (8), 252 – 263. doi:10.5539/jas.v5n8p252.
Rodima-Taylor, D., Olwig, M.F. and Chhetri, N., 2012: Adaptation as innovation, innovation as adaptation: An institutional approach to climate change. Applied Geography, 33: 107-111.
Slegers, M. F. W., 2008: "If only it could rain": Farmers' perceptions of rainfall and drought in semi-arid central Tanzania. Journal of
Arid Environments, 72: 2106-2123.
Swai, O.W., Mbwambo, J.S. and Magayane, F.T. (2012a). Gender and perception to climate change in Bahi and Kondoa Districts,
Dodoma Region, Tanzania, Journal of African Studies and Development 4(9), 218-231.
Synnevag, G., Kabote, S.J., Nombo, C.I., Mamiro, D. and Mattee, A. (2015). Smallholder Adaptation to Climate Change in Semiarid Areas of Tanzania: Experiences from Iramba and Meatu Districts. In Lal, R., Singh, B.R., Mwaseba, D.L., Kraybill, D., Hansen, D.O. and Eik, L.O. (Eds) Sustainable Intensification to
Advance Food Security and Enhance Climate Resilience in Africa. Springer International Publishing, Switzerland.
United Republic of Tanzania (URT), (2003). Initial National Communication under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Vice President’s Office, Dar es Salaam.
United Republic of Tanzania (URT), (2007). National Adaptation
Programme of Action (NAPA), Vice Presidents’ Office, Dar es Salaam.
United Republic of Tanzania (URT), (2013). 2012 National Population Census Report: Population Distribution by Age and Sex. National Bureau of Statistics, Dar es Salaam.
Yanda, P.Z. and Mubaya, C.P. (2011). Managing a Changing Climate in
Africa: Local Level Vulnerabilities and Adaptation Experiences, Mkuki na Nyota, Dar es Salaam.
Yanda, P.Z., Kangalawe, R.Y.M. and Sigalla, R.J. (2006). Climatic and socio-economic influences on malaria and cholera risks in the Lake Victoria Region of Tanzania. ICIFAI Journal of
Environmental Economics, 4(3), 44-70.
