Exploring opportunities for climate change adaptation in semi arid areas of Tanzania: A case of Nzega District in Tabora region

Abstract

Climate change and associated impacts are now widely acknowledged by most communities, institutions and organizations in the World to be affecting people’s livelihoods. The University of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania through the Institute of Resource Assessment (IRA) implemented a three years research program to study the implications of climate change on natural and social systems in three agro ecolocilal zones in Tanzania. The present paper presents finding obtained from one of the zones studied namely semi arid central and western part. The study was conducted in two villages namely Upungwe and Mbogwe located in Nzega District, Tabora region. A sample size of 99 people; that is, 10% of the total number of households was used for household interviews. A total of 40 people strategically selected were involved in focus group discussion, 20 from each village. Findings show that different ethnic groups have moved into villages in response to climate change impacts in their areas of origin. Climate change impacts in particular increased pests associated with temper rise and resulted in loss on various crop yields ranging from 46 to 80%. Most crops affected are in the order cotton, rice, cassava, sweet potatoes, groundnuts and maize, respectively. Different adaptation options were also reported but the most important was found to be different forms of linkages such as ruralurban reported to be more viable by 39 to 68% of respondents while 48 to 62% reported such linkages to be viable on adaptation. To strengthen adaptation rural-urban, urban-rural and rural-rural linkages needs to be facilitated so that products and information can flow from all ends.