Adoption of sustainable land management technologies: revisiting impact to community livelihood in west Usambara mountains, Tanzania

This study attempts to revisit and to assess the adoption impact of sustainable land management technology practices on community livelihood in West Usambara Mountains. Primary data were collected through household questionnaires, focus group discussions, key informants interviews and personal observations while secondary data were collected from relevant local authority reports and records. A total of 160 households were interviewed. Descriptive statistics, binary logistic regression, multiple linear regression, household dietary diversity and independent T-test statistics were used to analyze the data. Research findings found that, the area is still experiencing soil erosion problem i.e. about 61.9% is still facing it. The binary logistic regression model reveals that total number of household members; farm total size and average income per year have significant positive impact on the adoption of sustainable land management. Furthermore, multiple linear regression model reveals that household head age, farmland ownership and household income have significant positive impact on improving community livelihood while sustainable land management non-adopters deteriorate it. The computed independent T-test for the mean income difference was statistically highly significance between adopters and non-adopters, suggesting that adopters were in better-off position to improve their livelihood. The study concluded that both adoption and practicing of sustainable land management (SLM) should simultaneously be taken for sustainable community livelihood. As they both significantly develop community livelihood. Despite the fact that sustainable land management is multifaceted and seemed to require formal knowledge or at least assistance from extension providers to farmers, the study recommended that policy makers in collaboration with the government should work on improving skills for quality extension staff specifically on land conservation practices, enhancing provision of land title, enhancing improvement of road quality and initiate farmer group markets, these will help farmers both on more produces and good SLM practices and hence improved community livelihood.

Mr. John B. Temu and Mrs. Teckla J. Temu