Assessment of the environmental impacts of dark fire tobacco farming in Songea rural district

Abstract

The study was conducted in Songea rural district in Ruvuma region to investigate the environmental impact of dark fire tobacco. Community level data collection was carried out using structured questionnaires, focus group discussions, checklist guides and field survey in four villages selected purposively. A total of 120 tobacco growing households were interviewed. Analysis of both primary and secondary data was done using Ms Excel and SPSS. Results indicated that cultivation of tobacco in the district has resulted in the decimation of 333 033 hectares of forest land for the past three decades of which 282 441 hectares are due to field preparation, fuelwood demand for curing purpose consumed 52 957 hectares and 3389 hectares of catchment were cleared for seedbed preparation for tobacco seedlings. It was also found that forest land clearance has resulted into loss of biodiversity such as traditional medicines (Anonas spp which is used in treating sterility and dysentery), wild animals (Gazella soemmeringi), wild fruits (Uapaka kirkiana), and edible fungi (Termitomyces aurantiacus). Moreover, losses of precious top soil in form of sheet erosion particularly in sloping areas were reported by farmers. It is thus recommended that all stakeholders in the district should be involved in the conservation of environmental resources through the use of crop rotation, soil conservation techniques, planting both native and natural trees especially in catchment areas, and use of float seedbeds (box like trays) which use tobacco dust as medium for growth. In addition, introduction of subsidies on agricultural inputs such as fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides should be advocated as a means of reducing farmers’ overreliance on shifting cultivation, which has been found to be very detrimental to our precious environment.