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Oberlin College

Publication Date

Spring 2012

Program Name

Tanzania: Zanzibar: Coastal Ecology and Natural Resource Management

Abstract

The relationship between climate change, agriculture, and food security on the island of Unguja was studied. Informal interviews were carried out in the south-eastern coastal communities of Bwejuu, Paje, and Jambiani in order to gain perspective and awareness of local knowledge concerning changes in climate and it's affects on crop production. Formal interviews were conducted in Stone Town with the Ministry of Agriculture, the Department of Environment, the Sustainable Management of Land and the Environment office, private climate change experts and environmental consultants, and local NGO's to gain insight on what aspects of climate change are most detrimental in the agricultural successes and failures in Zanzibar. Both sets of interviews also addressed future perceptions of the island in terms of agricultural vulnerability and villagers' awareness levels concerning the concepts of global and local climate change. Field observations were conducted on each available farmers land, and general crop health and soil quality was recorded. Analysis of this information is presented in the following paper as a synthesized document written in order to fully understand how vulnerable the agriculture sector of coastal south-eastern Zanzibar is to the changing climate. The data collected is regarded as a key insight into the relationship between climate change and subsistence agriculture and the change in this union over the last twenty years. Lastly, recommendations are given for a more resilient and selfsufficient Zanzibar as well as further climate change related projects that could complement this exploration.

Disciplines

Agricultural and Resource Economics | Agriculture | Environmental Policy | Growth and Development | Natural Resources Management and Policy | Sustainability

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