Weather related challenges and transitory food insecurity in semiarid mixed crop-livestock systems in Manyoni District, Tanzania

Abstract

Many studies done in Latin America, Africa and Tanzania have reported various experiences on impact of weather-related challenges; perception and adaptation strategies practiced in various farming systems mainly crop and mangrove communities. However, little is documented about the experiences of households depending on mixed crop-livestock systems in semiarid areas in Central Tanzania. Using Manyoni District of Singida Region as a study area, quantitative data were collected from 90 respondents/households. Structured questionnaire was used to explore in-depth information about knowledge on weather related challenges; number of meals taken per day; role of some demographic and socio-economic factors and constraints faced. SPSS was employed for data entry and analysis. The findings showed 92.2% had knowledge about weather related challenges including changes in temperature rainfall pattern and wind; number of meals taken per household per day varied from one (1) and two (2) meals; a Chi-Square model at p ≤ 0.05 indicated that status of food in terms of the number of meals taken per household per day was determined by some demographic and socio-economic factors including age; size of the household, ownership and size of land; type and number of livestock owned as well as distance from areas of residence to the nearby urban centres. On the bases of these findings it is concluded that transitory food insecurity can be reduced/controlled if farmers are engaged in wide scope of income generating activities including livestock keeping. Therefore, Tanzania Livestock Research Institute (TALIRI) in collaboration with Local Government Authorities (LGA) and other development partners are encouraged to introduce livestock proven technologies and their packages for improved livestock production to cope with these challenges. In addition, livestock technologies should address production issues as well as identification of market opportunities to reduce transaction costs.

Keywords: Livestock-crop producers, weather related challenges, Transitory Food Insecurity