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Promoting climate change discourses may potentially create a useful space for addressing the effects of climate change in Tanzania. During disasters such as floods, everyone obfuscates their agency and blames the other for causing climate change effects. This paper examines the discourse of climate change among scientists, government officials, and the non-scientific Tanzanian stakeholders on climate change and adaptation strategies after the 2019-2020 effects. These actors obfuscate responsibilities and attribute blame on the other for accelerating climate change effects. This paper examines how these attributions contribute to enhancing resilience and adaptation strategies. The paper was theoretically guided by the divided subject and positioning theories. Data for this paper were gathered from YouTube covering the subject. The results suggest that while none of the actors accepts responsibility for accelerating climate change; "what is happening and what should be done" gradually turn into "who is responsible for the mess". Divisive discourse like this is likely to keep Tanzania wobbling to create a resilient society to confront the challenges of climate change. The paper raises the need for the facilitation of a better communication between climate change science and the non-scientific audience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change is one of the major threats to agricultural production worldwide, including many parts of Tanzania. However, different rural agricultural systems are affected differently and differ in their adaptive capacities. This paper assessed the adaptive capacity to climate change by farmers engaged in ndiwa and chamazi traditional irrigation farming systems in West Usambara Highlands, Tanzania. The study leading to this paper was conducted in four villages: Shashui, Nkukai, Lunguza and Kivingo in Lushoto District; and it adopted a cross-sectional research design involving a sample of 380 households. Data were collected through household survey, Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), observations and documentary reviews. Undeniably, farmers are not poor of what and how to adapt with climate change: they have some knowledge on what they can do to reduce and contain the adverse impacts of climate change. The results show that whereas ndiwa farmers have moderate adaptive capacity (41.6%), chamazi farmers have low adaptive capacity (23.6%) to climate change impacts. Despite this difference in capacities, both farmers are affected by low financing (ndiwa (14.36%), and chamazi (8.48%) as grants or credits hardly reach small-scale farmers; low access to technical information (ndiwa (15.08%), and chamazi (5.17%)); relative low access to physical infrastructure (ndiwa (5.02%), and chamazi (3.02%)); relative low level of diversity of livelihood (ndiwa (4.56%), and chamazi (4.49%)); and relative low level of human resources (ndiwa (2.51%), and chamazi (2.35%)). The paper recommends that strategies for enabling farmers to become change agents of climate change should build capacity in areas of physical resources such as equipment and infrastructure for irrigation, access to climate information, access to financing opportunities, livelihood diversification, and storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite their significant role in economic, environmental, ecological and sociocultural development, most protected areas (PAs) in Tanzania have been affected by various challenges emanating from climate change. This paper examines the impact of climate change on the livelihoods of communities living adjacent to the Ruaha National Park and Rungwa Game Reserves. Data for this paper were generated from a study that adopted a mixed research design; under which 234 respondents obtained through a random sample were involved in household surveys, 110 key informants were strategically involved in faceto-face interviews and 44 participants were purposively involved in focus group discussions to create a wider space for understanding the studied phenomenon. The results indicate that climate change has had adverse impacts on the livelihoods of communities, particularly affecting water sources for domestic use, crop production, livestock keeping, human health and human migration. The communities have adapted to the impact of climate change by adopting various strategies including growing drought-tolerant crops, practicing irrigation systems, migrating to new settlements, and practicing agropastoralism. However, non-climatic factors such as poor storage facilities, inadequate pest control methods and crop processing facilities; as well as means of transport used in farming activities, market information and soil fertility have limited the adaptive capacities of communities. Thus, due to the significant impacts of climate change and variability, efforts are needed to ensure that communities adjacent to protected areas adapt sustainably, and are resilient to the impacts of climate change and variability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Female pastoralists exhibit great strength in the drive to make a dependable livelihood from livestock tending. This is not without challenges that are genderspecific. This paper examines the socio-economic and environmental challenges faced by women pastoralists in the Sahelian Region of Northern Nigeria. Primary data were derived from an interview of 2,290 adult female household members in 6 local government areas in Bauchi and Gombe States in Nigeria. A stepwise regression analysis determined that amongst 23 socio-economic variables, 14 were significant explanatory or predictive variables (p < 0.05) for the socioeconomic status of women, as a measure of their capacity to sustain pastoralism. The results indicate that the length of time or experience in pastoralism had the most predictive power (β = 0.31; p < 0.05), and contributed 13% (R2 = 0.13) in enhancing the socio-economic status of pastoralist women. This was followed by other socio-economic factors such as the level of formal educational attained, participation in household livestock raising, ownership of large livestock, climate change awareness, prevalence of out-of-school children within the household, availability of household transportation means, category of health care facility accessed, involvement in non-agricultural economic sectors, involvement in food crop farming, ownership of small livestock, amount of rest/sleep affordable, membership of community development groups, and age. The paper recommends support for female education in pastoral communities, access to health care in remote areas, and upgrading community development groups to cooperative or self-help groups that can provide affordable loans to assist pastoralist women in thriving better in a supposedly male-dominated profession. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ensuring food security and increasing crop production in the face of climate change and environmental obstacles pose a pressing concern for smallholder farmers in the southern highlands of Tanzania. Through a combined approach of qualitative and quantitative data collection methods-which includes key informant interviews, focus group discussions, observations, and household surveys—this paper examines the methods employed by smallholder farmers to bolster resilience and reduce vulnerability to environmental shifts. The results suggest that climate change exerts effects on both the village farming system and households by the following percentages of impact: food shortages (38.7% village/farming system, 29.0% household); infestation of uncommon pests (30.6% village/farming system, 27.4% household); diminishing rainfall/drought (22.6% village/farming system, 17.7% household); and crop failure (24.2% village/farming system, 29.0% household). The household farming methods practised by farmers encompass a range of strategies that include: agroforestry (37.1% adoption rate), which promotes the interspersing of trees with crops to enhance biodiversity and provide ecosystem services; and zero/minimum tillage (9.7%) practices, which reduce soil erosion and improve soil health. The challenges smallholder farmers face in adapting to climate change include the lack of appropriate tools, unfamiliarity with techniques, and inadequate support: all of which exacerbate the uncertainty surrounding the future of farmers and agriculture. By building adaptive capacity and promoting climate-smart agricultural practices, the region can improve food security, reduce vulnerability, and enhance the livelihoods of farming communities. Sustained efforts should prioritize smallholder farmers’ active participation and empowerment in climate change adaptation initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper employed a triangulation of methods in assessing the effectiveness of youth engagement strategies in climate change agenda and sustainable development within Naitolia village, in Monduli district Tanzania. Nonprobability sampling techniques were used to determine a total of 147 youthful respondents aged between 15 and 35 years from Ormang'wai and Engusero sub-villages. Qualitative data were collected using FGDs, in-depth interviews and direct field observations; while quantitative data were captured through administered questionnaires. The results reveal that 81.0% of the respondents knew of the explicit and implicit engagement strategies in the area. The binary logistic regression model showed that mixed livelihoods and education systems significantly influenced the respondents' awareness and engagement trends in priority development goals. Most engagement strategies embraced a combination of explicit and implicit strategies to enhance livelihood resilience. However, implicit strategic interventions were popular, while explicit strategies were considered ineffective and tokenistic due to mismatched execution of misaligned 'one-size-fits-all' policies. In spite of increasing awareness on climate change, existing youth engagement strategies are still misplaced, tokenistic and ineffective in guaranteeing sustainable development in a rapidly changing climate. The paper recommends proper mapping and inclusion of key stakeholders to raise public awareness and resource harmonization for enhanced youth engagement in climate change and sustainable development. Specifically, it recommends concrete paradigm shifts in governance, education systems, skills development pathways and financial accessibility to create enabling environments for effective youth engagement and empowerment in climate change, and beyond priority development goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of renewable energy sources is one of the measures that have had a significant contribution in reducing greenhouse gas emissions while ensuring sustainable development. Hence, this necessitates the need to ensure a sustainable national socio-economic development pathway that supports low emissions through the development and use of renewable energy. This paper analyses data from a systematic review that was conducted to understand how research is approaching the state of public policies of renewable energy and climate change in Tanzania. The review screened more than 500 published papers and unpublished reports containing 120 unique studies related to renewable energy, climate change and sustainable development. Results indicate that renewable energy sources have the potential of contributing to the reduction of about two-thirds of the total global energy carbon dioxide emission. The results further indicate that renewable energy may save carbon dioxide for the range of global cumulative savings of about 220-560 GtCO2 in the period 2010-2050. The results also show that Tanzania has targeted to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by between 30% and 35% by 2030. Thus, more appropriate renewable energy policies would enable the country to further efficiently contribute to the global goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, while achieving its sustainable development. This underscores the need for Tanzania to adopt appropriate policies for the utilisation of renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, hydro and geothermal energy for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, while achieving its sustainable development goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

African culture is a rich reservoir of varying degrees of information. It encompasses unique knowledge originating from within Africa, which is reflected in its people's traditions and customs. This knowledge engrafts and provides solutions to a myriad of problems. Among others, it provides solutions to compelling environmental challenges like land degradation, water and air pollution, global warming and climate change. This paper presents a textual analysis of five (5) Sangu oral tales that represent ecological knowledge and practices of the Sangu people. This is done as a way to unriddle the ongoing environmental enigma in the Usangu Plain, and the world at large. The tales under scrutiny are: Umutwa na Avatambule Vaakwe ('The Chief and His Sub-chiefs'); iNjokha wiita Nguluvi ('Snake like God'); Munego ('A Trap'); iJungwa Sikhandi Vaanu ('Elephants Were Once Human Beings'); and Amagulu ga Nguluvi ('The Feet of God'). A total of twenty (20) tales were collected qualitatively through one-on-one in-depth interviews with Sangu storytellers; and then through a content analysis method: all of which found the five aforementioned tales fit for the subject matter. The results show that the telling of oral stories is not just an occasion but also a display of skills and knowledge of a particular people, and that solutions to the current global environmental crisis lie in people's traditions as expressed in their environment-related oral narratives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines perceptions and actions of urban residents on urban forestry and adaptation to climate change in Kigamboni District in the city of Dare es Salaam, Tanzania. It employs an exploratory research design to capture the perceived link between urban forestry and climate change, using a semistructured questionnaire administered to 107 respondents obtained through a simple random sampling technique. Yielded qualitative and quantitative data were analyzed using content analysis and the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), respectively. The findings mostly indicated perceptions inconsistency across variables among respondents, and between the current study and past studies. Also, the number of trees planted per household is relatively low considering the space available per home ground. The paper concludes that it is time for Tanzania to introduce a national forest city program to easily track developments and achievements in the urban forestry sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper sought to assess the understanding of climate change among the Maasai community in Ngerengere Division, Morogoro Region, in Tanzania. A recent study that involved 70 participants in an embedded case study design revealed that the Maasai pastoralists and farmers understand the weather patterns and can cope well with climatic variability typical of semi-arid areas. This understanding helps individuals and social groups to access and process climate information to the level that raises their capability to adopt relevant mitigation measures. Presented narratives obtained through the triangulation of data indicate that the Maasai people have established coping strategies to help them reduce the impacts of climate change in their contexts. Captured strategies include: shifting from livestock to small-scale farming, cattle raiding, and increasing the number of livestock. The paper uncovers that the target community has developed indicators that help individuals and social groups to access climate change knowledge in their area, and adopt necessary and useful measures. Cited indicators include; prevalence of new types of diseases, change in patterns of human activities, extreme fluctuations of Ngerengere river volume, and shifting of the river flow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides an exploratory account of the vital importance of understanding the role of the Planet Earth as a complex system and as reservoir of natural resources essential for human development from local, through national, to global levels. Its analytical framework is the political ecology discourse, which holistically interrogates natural resources, resource use systems, forms of ownership and labour regimes as well as types of commodity chains to underscore the role of power and wealth relations in explaining human well-being and environmental health with a view to equitably allocate scarce resources among and between competing individuals, groups, classes and institutions. Aware that environmental change is inevitable given the forces of both nature and humankind, and that the current unequal terms of trade at the local level, as well as between the developed and developing countries, are in disfavour of smallholders, the paper argues that these should be the burning issues of concern to the new generation of geographers. It advances that a consortium of committed scholars composed of social scientists, on the one hand, and the natural scientists and technologists, on the other, coupled with community-based development partners should be instituted. The paper concludes by advocating citizens' protection against natural resource use systems subjected to extreme socioeconomic-political-ecologic vicissitudes to be treated by the government as human rights issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite vast research on climate change and adaptation in Pemba Island, and Zanzibar at large, little is still known about past climate changes and community adaptation to the ensuing hazards. Existing scholarship on climate change and community adaptation have generally focused on the most recent changes and adaptations. This paper intends to provide a historical understanding of past climate changes and community adaptation to contribute to the current scholarship. It relied on archival data, archaeological and historical reports, observation of existing sucked sites and existing oral traditions to reconstruct climate change adaptation history in the Island. The study found that climate changes have been happening in the Island since time immemorial. The Island experienced fluctuating rainfalls and temperatures that generated long- and short-term changes from wet to dry climatic conditions. The study further found that, for centuries, local communities in the Island suffered the impacts of climate change and innovated varied adaptations to survive. The strategies ranged from prayers to small-scale irrigation. It is argued that although the mechanism driving global climate change today are different from those in the past, the understanding of past adaptations to climate change offers some valuable insights into dealing with current and anticipated future climate changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coastal community continuity and change in livelihoods become a prime adaptation strategy worldwide because of climate and environmental change. The changes in climate and environment along the coast have been associated with natural and human induced factors. This paper analysed the livelihood continuity and change as adaptation measures in northern Unguja, in relation to temperature and rainfall change. Archival and current reviews, interview and observation which represent the livelihoods change over last 100years were used. The paper also, analyzed how local community processes of continuity and change have interconnected with local climate events and changes over last 100 years. The results reveal that there were societal change both North Western Zone and North Eastern Zone in livelihoods activities as an adaptation mechanism due to gradual environmental changes, such as coastal erosion, coastal floods, unreliable rainfall and droughts. Such scenario increases the risk and vulnerability to the local community. The study also reveals that the identification of risks and vulnerability depends on the local community perceptions of what functions the coastal and terrestrial land should provide, as they informed by past experience, histories and current situation. Therefore, the successful adaptation from the local perspective should go beyond protecting what is already there and allow for future development of the village. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Community livelihood assets are important in enhancing household adaptive capacity and resilience to the impact of climate change. This paper examined the vulnerability of community livelihood assets to the impacts of climate change using Ileje District, in south-western Tanzania as a case study. Random sampling was used to select four villages, out of which two villages were sampled from midland and two from highland established agro ecological zones, constituting a total sample size of 308 households. Descriptive statistics was used in data analysis generated from household interviews. A balanced weighted average approach was performed to calculate households' livelihood vulnerability index (LVI). The results showed that climate change impacted the livelihood assets of households; and more so on social, physical and financial capital; with LVI of 0.7, 0.4, and 0.4, respectively. Households' incomes, land and water productivity, biodiversity, soil fertility and water flow from water sources were reduced; household health and employment opportunities were impacted; whereas households' food shortage and poverty increased. The results also revealed the adaptive capacity index of 0.35 (overall), 0.34 (midland zone) and 0.36 (highland zone), indicating the study area to be moderately vulnerable to climate change. This paper argues that assessing the magnitude of climate change impacts on households' livelihood assets is strategic for sustainable adaptation to climate changes as it guides policy makers and planners on appropriate management measures. Similarly, increasing the access of livelihood assets to the more vulnerable households is vital for sustaining their livelihoods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper assesses the usability of groundwater in climate change adaptation in Moshi rural district, Tanzania. It examines how groundwater is used as a climate change adaptation strategy as well as the strategy for boosting other adaptation strategies. Data for the study were gathered from five major sources; these include field observation, interviews, household questionnaires and focus group discussions (FGDs). It also reviewed various literature including weather-recorded data. The study found that groundwater is unsurpassed climate change adaptation in the area and it enhances other adaptation mechanisms like planting trees and irrigation. The use of groundwater has thrived to diminish water shortage in the area as a result it helps to increase water for domestic and sanitation usage. It also boosted water use range per person per day and decreased the distances walked by persons in obtaining domestic water. Despite these advantages, groundwater is neglected and less preferred in government planning, a snag that leads to poor groundwater usage and conservation. This paper concludes that, groundwater is among the best climate change options in Moshi rural district as it helped to cover water shortage between rainfall seasons in the area since the area was semi-arid. It provided daily water supply in the area for both agriculture and domestic use hence supporting people's livelihood. Therefore, this paper recommends more research on contributions made by groundwater in climate change adaptation in semi arid regions in Tanzania. This will generate knowledge that can be used by planners in climate change adaptation since groundwater can help to evacuate people's livelihood from climate change vulnerability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change is a global phenomenon that requires significant responses. Its impacts are already being felt and projected to affect adversely the security of water in coastal areas. To develop effective adaptation plans, policies and strategies require disaggregated data on both men and women's response to climate change. Therefore, this paper fills this knowledge gap by analyzing adaptation strategies of water insecure coastal communities of Tanzania in a gender perspective. Purposive sampling procedure was used to identify 97 households from village households register for a household survey. It was also used to select study area, key informants and discussants for focus group discussions. Results indicated that the problem of water insecurity has been increasing in the study area compared to the past 30 years. Most of response strategies pursued by women in the study area are different from those employed by women in semi-arid regions while to men most of response strategies are similar. The study recommends that climate change adaptation measures, plans and policies should take into account differences between men and women's responses to water insecurity. Furthermore, climate change adaptation interventions to water insecurity should address gender vulnerabilities at the household level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper offers an analytical view on climate variability and flood events in the City of Dar es Salaam. This is a response to a central question whether there is relationship between substantial changes in climate variability especially rainfall and temperature to the persistence of flood events. The study gathered climatology data from two weather stations provided by Tanzania Meteorological Agency (TMA) and employed mixed methods approach in data collection, analysis and presentation of findings. The study revealed that temperature has shown a significant increasing trend to about 2.45 °C in the last 31 years, while rainfall data indicated the decline in annual rainfall especially during short-rainy seasons. Furthermore, there was a relative increase in rains in March and April unlike in May where there is a decline in rainfall. Despite all these changes, correlation value between rainfall intensities and flood events wasfound to be 0.5 indicating a weak to moderate positive relationship. It is under this regards where poor planning in infrastructure and poor waste disposal plays a critical amplifying role in persistence floods. Therefore this paper recommends that, since temperature has shown an increasing trend then future scenarios of climate change in region should not be underestimated or exaggerated at all levels of decision making, planning and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change has received global attention as it poses challenges to climatesensitive sectors; and affects natural, social, and economic systems, resulting in changing gender roles. This paper assesses the relationship between climate change adaptation and gender roles to understand the effects of climatic stresses on a wide range of gender roles in Kisarawe district, Tanzania. The study investigated the effect of climate change on rainfall and temperature patterns. It further looked at sex-based division of work at the home level. The study employed a mixed research design. Data collection involved gender-disaggregated survey data, focus group discussions (FGDs), and key informant interviews (KIIs). The latter two were employed in collecting qualitative data, whereas quantitative data were collected using a household survey that involved a total of 120 heads of households, who were selected using simple random sampling techniques. Participants for FGDs and KIIs were obtained through purposive sampling. People's perceptions were validated using temperature and rainfall data. The results suggest that from 1987 to 2018, there were climate changes in both minimum and maximum annual rainfalls and temperatures, which led to a change in traditional gender roles, and a switch to shared roles. The differences in perceived changes in gender roles were statistically insignificant (p > 0.05). The study results recommend that gender-responsive and bottom-up-oriented policies, together with locally-led adaptation plans are fundamental in resolving climate change impacts in Kisarawe district. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although various studies on climate change and food production have been conducted, information on how households in Tanzania respond to climate change for sustainable food production is scarce. This paper investigates climate change adaptation practices in enhancing sustainable food production in Rombo District, Tanzania. The study adopted a crosssectional research design. Quantitative data were analysed by using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences software, while the qualitative data were analysed through factual and logical interpretation of the findings. Results show that drought was the main effect of climate change as reported by 65.7% of the respondents in the study area. Furthermore, the findings show that 81.4% of the respondents applied artificial fertilizers to their farms in efforts to adapt to climate change. Study results also show a significant association between the education level of the respondents and use of improved seeds (P = 0.08) and soil water conservation (P = 0.09) as adaptation measures to climate change. In adapting to the changing climate, respondents also experienced some challenges such as lack of resources in terms of financial, material and human labour. Proper knowledge on the adaptation measures is recommended to be given to farmers through various methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the imperatives for food security in the dynamics of climate change and global warming at the local Nigerian scale. Results revealed that exposure and sensitivity to climate risks vary across the country over the years. Analyses of sensitivity to inter-annual and intra-annual climate variability using bivariate correlation and multiple regression methods suggests impending drought in the northern region where livestock farming is predominant. An estimation of the relative contributions of each climate independent variable in determining the variability of crop yield using the backward selection procedures for the regression in the case of inter-annual variability was also conducted. Stepwise approach was adopted for the intra-annual study indexing the impacts of annual climate variability by a parameter computed as annual yield minus mean annual yield, divided by the standard deviation. The results produced a Zdistribution array with values varying from approximately -5 to approximately +5. Values < -3 or > 3 indicate impacts that are significant at 95 percent confidence levels. This study, therefore, established the interwoven relationship between climatic change, global warming and food security; and concludes that storage and preservation techniques or methods be developed as a strategic effort towards food security in Nigeria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change scenario shows that areas with bimodal rainfall pattern and major river basins including the Rufiji basin are anticipated to receive an increase of rainfall intensity by 5% to 45%, with a decrease of raining seasons. This incident is expected to upsurge the frequency and magnitude of extreme flood events and cause serious devastations to vulnerable communities. This paper examined the progression of factors causing community vulnerability to flood disasters as basis for developing appropriate flood risk reduction strategies. Data collection methods involved household survey, focus group discussions, in-depth interviews, remote sensing and hydrological analysis. The household survey and hydrological data were analysed using Statistical Packages for Social Science and Trend Analysis software. Data from focus group discussion and interviews were triangulated with community during participatory discussions. Results showed high degree of community vulnerability to flood impacts extending from geographical, social, economic, political and environmental factors. The catchment delineation model showed that the community is geographically located in flood hazardous areas because the river networks flow into the study area. Also, severity of flood impacts was locally related by the recent influx of cattle in the area which has contributed to land degradation, increased runoff and siltation of the Rufiji river. Furthermore, lack of access to social services such as education, health, water and sanitation facilities were found to largely reduce socioeconomic abilities while illuminating underlying vulnerabilities of study communities to flood impacts. The findings suggested combining underlying and immediate factors in reducing future community vulnerability to flood disasters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper established the role of Community Based Adaptation (CBA) practices in responding to extreme rainfall events in coastal communities of Tanzania, using data collected over two months. Primary data were collected using focus group discussions, key informant interviews, participant observations, historical timeline and household questionnaire survey. A total of 62 households from Chumbi C and Kikale villages in Rufiji district were interviewed. Secondary data were sourced from government agencies and unpublished literatures. The Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) was used to analyse rainfall extremes (i.e. wettest and driest years) over the past thirty four years in the study area. Quantitative data were analysed using Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS) and Microsoft Excel. The timeline of dry and wettest years, since 1980 to 2015, was constructed and corroborated with farmers'perceptions, anomalies and seasons changes. There is marginal decadal rainfall variability and seasonality change in October, November and December (OND); January and February (JF); and March, April, and May (MAM). The changes have serious bearings on crops growing seasons over time. Smallholder farmers in Rufiji District are vulnerable to climatic extremes, since most of their livelihoods strongly depend on rain fed agriculture. We found that smallholder farmers respond to extreme weather events (e.g. floods and droughts) using a range of CBA options, including cultivating in wetlands and livelihoods diversification. Smallholder farmers are heavily reliant on incremental CBA practices when responding to extreme weather events; hence they need economic and policy support to enable them engage in transformative changes which are more effective and sustainable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Access to clean and safe fresh water remain a challenge to many developing countries. Provision of fresh water both in terms of quantity and quality is a source of and the condition for, a socio-economic development. Local communities in the coastal areas of Pangani district, Tanzania have already felt and are vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and variability. This paper assesses the effects of climate change and variability on access to fresh water resources for domestic uses. Drawing from a sample of 109 respondents, 11 key informant interviews, three focus group discussions and observations from Bweni, Msaraza and Pangani Mashariki villages in Pangani district the findings revealed that climate change and variability has negative impacts on the quantity and quality of fresh water resources in the area. Among the impact of climate change and variability on fresh water resources include rainfall decrease and variability, prolonged drought, an increase of salinity in Pangani River and natural wells. These impacts have led to scarcity of fresh water in the district resulting into the increase of walking distances to the fresh water sources, increase of water prices, and opting for unsafe sources. To adapt to the impacts of climate change and variability people in Pangani district have opted to rainwater harvesting, construction of boreholes and dams and planting mangroves to reduce salinity intrusion. Participation of different stakeholders (governments, NGOs, communities) in the design and implementation of adaptation strategies to reduce impacts of climate change and variability and improve fresh water sources is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study assesses the sustainability of adaptation strategies in rainfed agriculture to the effects of climate change and variability (CC & V) in Nyang'oro ward in Iringa District, Tanzania. The study involved a total of 138 respondents, of which 120 were household heads; whereby 82 respondents were from Nyang'oro village, and 38 were from Chamndindi village. The study employed a cross-sectional survey research design using both quantitative and qualitative research approaches. Primary data were collected through questionnaires, in-depth interviews and focus group discussions; and secondary data were collected through documentary review. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse quantitative data with the SPSS software, version 27; while qualitative data were analysed through content analysis. The study found that strategies used to adapt to the effects of CC & V in rainfed agriculture varied in terms of sustainability, such that some were sustainable while others were not. Sustainable adaptation strategies were used by a few households. As a result, crop production remains vulnerable to the effects of CC & V. The study concludes that the vulnerability of rainfed agriculture to the effects of CC & V in the study area is caused by the household heads' selection of strategies as few individuals used sustainable adaptation strategies. The study recommends the government and other stakeholders to put more efforts on capacity building on the use of sustainable strategies in the adaptation to the effects of CC & V on rainfed agriculture by smallholder farmers to ensure optimum and sustainable crop production in a changing climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study made an investigation on agro-pastoralists' resilience through innovative adaptation structures to the impacts of climate change and variability in semi-arid areas of Kiteto and Kilindi districts. Data were collected using household survey which sampled 384 households, Focus Group Discussion, In-depth interviews and field visits were also used to collect more detailed data. The results indicated that the majority of the respondents indicated the decline in grazing lands/pastures and water resources leading to the decrease in the number of livestock and crop productivity by about 91.1%) being the major effect of climate change and variability in the study areas. All these have resulted to food insecurity for about six years consecutively. Therefore, to increase resilience, agro-pastoralists have developed innovative adaptation strategies which varied from one village to another, however, most of them were similar in abating food insecurity and climate change vulnerability. Overall, the main innovated adaptation strategies in order of importance were seasonal mobility with their livestock, construction of traditional water points locally known as Njoro, the use of traditional by-laws for pastures conservation/rotational use, traditional Maasai constructed water reservoirs (Mboutu), reducing stock number by selling and women transporting water by donkeys from traditional wells/Njoro and all of which have increased their livelihoods in dry lands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The beef cattle production system practiced in the Lake Victoria Basin is mainly extensive, which involves cattle grazing on natural pastures. This system is characterized by overgrazing, low livestock production and soil degradation. Under the effects of global climate change, these pastoral management challenges are expected to increase. As the impacts of climate change to beef cattle production over the Lake Victoria Basin is unknown, this study used participatory mapping method and focus group discussions to assess spatial changes in livestock routes in relation to water and pasture availability in Ilemela and Magu districts of Mwanza region, Tanzania. GIS technology was used for the formalization of spatial layers. It was revealed that there were many changes in livestock routes such that some have become roads, some have been lost, and others narrowed. These changes were due to increase of settlements and cultivated areas, and more specifically a general decline of water sources and grazing land. This implies that appropriate strategies such as a land use planning, stock routings modification, education on effective cattle farming and intervention by rainwater harvesting should be designed so as to adapt to climate change effects, and improve livestock production in Ilemela and Magu districts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rural community still lacks access to clean, cost effective and sustainable form of energy that is needed to power their socio-economic activities, particularly for agriculture, water supply and food processing. Understanding that energy has a close link with poverty reduction, economic growth and sustainable development, a study on the process of modifying plant oil (PO) to produce a suitable liquid biofuel that can run diesel engines commonly used in rural areas for various social-economic activities was carried out. The research was part of works by Policy Innovation System for Clean Energy Security (PISCES) research project, which was a five-year initiative project funded by the UK's Department for International Development (DFID). PISCES, which had partners in Kenya, India, Sri Lanka, United Kingdom and Tanzania, intended to provide policy makers with information and approaches that can unlock the potential of bioenergy to improve energy access and livelihoods in rural communities. The PO used was indigenous non-edible oil from Jatropha (Jatropha Curcas L.) seeds. Modified Plant Oil (MPO) presents a potential clean, cost-effective, sustainable and accessible fuel to meet rural basic energy needs. MPO can also power rural agroprocessing activities by being used in power tillers, millers, water pumps, etc., and become an important key for socio-economic development of rural population relying on agricultural activities. The use of renewable energy from PO will contribute to sustainable energy source and to reduce CO2 emission, contributing to reduce climate change problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]