Browsing by Author "Kamwenda, Gerald Jones"

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Analysis of "ngitiri" as a traditional silvopastoral technology among the agropastoralists of Meatu, Shinyanga, Tanzania
(Sokoine University of Agriculture, 1999) Kamwenda, Gerald Jones
A diagnostic survey was conducted in Meatu district agropastoral land use system, to iteratively refine the "ngitiri" (a traditional fodder reserve under silvopasture system) among the agropastoralists of Shinyanga, Tanzania. The study was based on a descriptive diagnosis and design (an ICRAF methodology), to identify the components, structure, management and the technological specifications of the "ngitiri". The diagnostic survey was complemented with a blend of qualitative land evaluation and descriptive socio-economic and ecological evaluation of the silvopasture land use. The qualitative land evaluation, was conducted based on the four mapping units of vegetation strata, established through photo interpretation of current satellite imagery, vegetation maps and ground truth surveys (DROP, 1997). Out of the four strata, two were combined to form three effective sampling strata for diagnostic survey. Sixty household individuals were purposefully selected, (twenty from each of the three effective sampling strata), among individuals practising "ngitiri" system, whereas three representative “ngitiri” were purposefully selected from the vegetation cover types of the representative effective sampling strata. The data were collected using the ICRAF Diagnostic and Design methodology and the FAO Guideline for Land Evaluation. Twenty multidisciplinary individual staff, involved in land husbandry were purposefully selected for triangulation, from a number of departments in the districts. The Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) programme, content structural analysis and categorisation of social information, together with suitability rating, were used in data analysis. The social survey and resource assessment methods of triangulation of information, was employed in content structural analysis of social information. The study identified the specification for “ngitiri”, comprising of; 17 commonly grazed fodder grasses, 25 commonly browsed herbs and forbes, and 25 browsable tree species. The district suitability rating for extensive grazing and community forestry were established, together with extension and research, needed for sustainable ecological land use under "ngitiri" silvopasture practice. Among the tree species found in "ngitiri" fodder reserves, 88% had an environmental role to play in the agropastoral ecosystem. Among the 60 informants interviewed, 95% indicated the potential of "ngitiri" to mitigate dry season fodder shortage, and supported the use of "ngitiri" to supply dry season fodder, while 85% supported "ngitiri" to have potential for mitigating environmental degradation. Among the 20 purposively selected professional staff, all indicated "ngitiri" to have potential for production and supply of dry season fodder, and mitigating environmental degradation, when properly used and managed. The survey identified and prioritised overgrazing, drought, termite attack, seedling mortality, lack of title deeds, encroachment, tsetse flies, water scarcity, tick borne diseases, lack of veterinary services, cattle rustling and land scarcity as the major problems affecting silvopasture land use. The study establishes the gaps for sustainable "ngitiri" management, improvement and potential silvopasture suitability rating. Furthermore, the study points some basic needs to brigde the gaps in extension, research and policy reforms, with respective recommendations.