Mole rats (tachyoryctes splendens) infestation and smallholder farmers well-being: the case of Rombo District, Tanzania
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Date
2021
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Publisher
Sokoine University of Agriculture
Abstract
Rodent outbreaks cause massive crop losses. In Tanzania mole rats are among the
major rodents pests; they feed on underground plants parts mainly roots, rhizomes,
tubers, stem bulbs and grasses. Mole rats attack a variety of crops causing extensive
damage and losses; this threatens the sustainability of smallholder farmers’
livelihoods. Therefore, the study on which this dissertation is based aimed at
assessing the effect of mole rats infestation on smallholder farmers’ well-being since
mole rats destroy crops, causing extensive damage and losses affecting farmers' well-
being. The specific objectives were to: establish the extent of crop damage by mole
rats, estimate the economic impact of mole rats effects on the smallholder farmers
wellbeing in terms of income, food security and assets possession and determine the
effectiveness of mole rats control strategies adopted by smallholder farmers in the
study area. A cross-sectional research design was adopted whereby quantitative and
qualitative data were collected from four villages in Rombo District. Qualitative data
were collected using key informant interviews and observations. Quantitative data
were collected using a structured questionnaire. Qualitative data were analysed using
content analysis, and quantitative data were analysed descriptively and inferentially
using multiple linear regression and binary logistic regression analysis. Findings
from the study showed that bananas were the most damaged crop in the highland
areas (79% of the respondents said so). In the lowland areas, maize was the most
damaged crop (70% of the respondents said so). The findings also showed that hours
spent on controlling mole rats had a significant statistical influence on food security.
Incidence of mole rats throughout the year had a significant statistical influence on asset value. Agriculture is the most important economic activity in Rombo District.
The findings showed that trapping was the most adopted strategy to control mole rats
infestation in farms (p<0.05), followed by excavation of burrows (p<0.05) and the
use of fumigants in burrows. The findings further showed that trapping of root rats
and excavation of burrows had a positive influence on banana production. It is
concluded that proper management of mole rats in Rombo District can reduce the
problems that farmers face in respect to agricultural yield loss and energy
expenditure. Assessing the farmers' perception on pest status, existing control
methods, costs and efficiency of controlling methods will facilitate decisions made
on the application of successful pest management strategies. It is recommended that
introducing and using integrated pest management strategies will reduce mole rats
attack and ensure increased agricultural productivity. The study also recommends
that extension agents should equip farmers with improved cultivation techniques to
increase banana harvests while farmers should enhance trapping of mole rats and
excavation of burrows as effective strategies to reduce crop damage and increase
crop harvest. It is also recommended that farmers should consider planting of
tephrosia vogelii which has been reported to reduce mole rats infestation in farms.
Farmers should be encouraged to adopt communal cooperation during controlling
mole rats to avoid crop losses in their farms.
Description
Masters Dissertation
Keywords
Mole rats (Tachyoryctes splendens), Smallholder farmers, Farmers well-being, Rombo District, Tanzania