Paper
Agroforestry as Adaptation Strategy under Climate Change in Mwanga District, Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
- Authors:
- Richard. L. Charles; P.K.T. Munishi; Emmanuel. F. Nzunda
- Abstract
- Agroforestry is a climate-smart production system that sustainably diversifies environmental and socio-economic benefits of subsistence farmers, and is therefore considered more resilient than monocropping to increased intensity of extreme weather events. This study was conducted to assess the potential of agroforestry in buffering smallholder`s farmers against climate variability in Mwanga District, Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. Research methodologies used included literature review, questionnaire, and ecological survey. A sample of 103 households engaged in agro forestry (AF) and non-AF were selected randomly from three villages for ecological study which involved an inventory of on farm trees and questionnaire survey for collecting socio-economic data. SPSS computer program was used to analyse socio-economic data. The diversity of benefits in AF practices such as food (59.2%), fodder (58.2%), selling livestock (71%), fruits (54.4%), timber (27.2%) and fuelwood (45.7% ) revealed to increase farmer`s resilience during environmental extremes and climate variability. AF practitioners were richer than non practitioners with an extra income of TAS 988 042 (USD 618) annually. In conclusion, crops integration and diversity in AFS were among the resilient features which reduced farmer’s risk from total crops failure, since the risk of losses from environmental hazards was spread among different crop species. Further increased income as a result of the diversity of products from the agro forestry system(AFS) enhanced the resilience of AF practitioners. But, vigorous efforts are needed to provide knowledge on the AF products value-addition innovation, promoting rich carbon land use, understanding and addressing competing claims on natural resources access and uses.
- Keywords
- Agroforestry Products; Multipurpose Trees; Products Diversification; Resilience; Sustainability
- StartPage
- 29
- EndPage
- 38
- Doi