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Northwestern University

Publication Date

Fall 2017

Program Name

Tanzania: Wildlife Conservation and Political Ecology

Abstract

Agriculture is vital to the economic and social systems in Tanzania, composing 30% of the country’s GDP as well as 80% of employment (FAO, 2014). Despite agriculture’s important role, it remains one of the most vulnerable sectors to climate change. Current trends project global average temperature to increase by 0.8-2.6 degrees Celsius, leaving farmers to face changes in rainfall, soil quality, and new pests and diseases (IPCC, 2007). Farmers will be forced to adapt to the changing climate if they are to sustain their livelihoods and the Tanzanian economy. For these reasons, it is important to understand the types of adaptation strategies farmers use, and why. The following study examines the ways in which farmers in Kizanda Village adapt to environmental stress caused by climate change. Through in-depth interviews with farmers (n=45), this study looks at both agricultural and social adaptations to gauge how food, farming, and education are impacted by climate change. This study shows that the majority of farmers have already observed negative impacts of climate change and implement a variety of strategies to cope with these changes. Farmers reported changes in crop quality, temperature, rainfall, and soil since they started farming. These farmers display adaptive capabilities despite their limited access to agricultural education and other resources.

Disciplines

African Studies | Agricultural Science | Agronomy and Crop Sciences | Biodiversity | Climate | Ecology and Evolutionary Biology | Environmental Indicators and Impact Assessment | Environmental Sciences | Environmental Studies | Food Studies | Other Earth Sciences | Social and Cultural Anthropology | Sustainability

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