The effect of climate variability and change to the farming systems in Iramba and Meatu Districts, Tanzania

Journal of Continuing Education and Extension, 2014;5(2): 656-676

This study examined changes in farming systems in response to climate variability and change. Specifically, the study aimed to;(i) assess /armors' perceptions of climate variability and change and (ii) examine changes in the Jai-ming systems in response to climate variability and change. The study adopted qualitative (fOcus group discussions) and quantitative (household survey) techniques using a sample sire of 150 respondents for the survey. The results demonstrated that smallholder farmers and agro-pastoralists perceived the occurrence of climate variability and change manifested through drought, rainfall variability and increased day time surface temperature. Awareness regarding climate variability and change were associated with the middle age group (18-45 years old), which perceived increased drought since the 2000s relative to other age groups. Frequent JOod shortage and increasing .shortage of pasture were on the increase. Contract. to their expectations, smallholder farmers and agro-pastoralists were unable to adjust fully their .J arming systems to minimize the negative effects 01 climate variability and change. This means, they had little capacity to change their Jarming systems or simply, they -were vulnerable to the effects of climate variability and change. It is therefore recommended that, through integrated effort by the government and Nongovernmental Organi=ations (Ar(;0s) should support smallholder farmers and agro-pastoralists to adjust their farming systems in response to climate variability and change so as to 1111171.111ire the negative effects.