Browsing by Author "Mahonge, Christopher P"

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Institutional framework in relation to the use of low‐quality water for food crops irrigation in Tanzania
(Springer, 2021-04) Nyanda, Suzana S; Mahonge, Christopher P
Low-quality water as an alternative source of water for food crops irrigation is gaining popularity in urban and peri-urban area in developing countries. The practice is associated with health risks if appropriate institutional measures are not undertaken. It is unclear on whether and how the practice is incorporated in the existing institutions in Tanzania. A cross-sectional study was undertaken in the country to assess an institutional framework in relation to the use of low-quality water for food crops irrigation. Data were collected through documentary review of formal institutions, in-depth interviews with the government officials (n = 15), farmers survey (n = 30) and focus group discussions (n = 2) with people using low-quality water from the waste stabilization ponds. Content and descriptive statistics analyses were employed. It was found that, the existing insti- tutions (policies, legislations and regulations) lack provisions that explicitly support or oppose the use low-quality water for food crops irrigation. The current effluent standards are tailored towards safe disposal for environmental management and public health protection. However, water scarcity and the need for alternative sources of water were acknowledged in the institutions and by the government officials interviewed. The existing informal uses of low-quality water reported were vegetables irrigation, brick-making and drinking water for livestock though the government officials interviewed were not in favour of leafy vegetables irrigation. The study recommends formulation of new institutions or review of the existing ones to enhance the productive use of the water resource while protecting the health of the public and the environment.
Panorama of agro-pastoralism in western Serengeti: a review and synthesis
(2017) Kavana, Pius Yoram; Mahonge, Christopher P; Sangeda, Anthony Z; Mtengeti, Ephraim J; Fyumagwa, Robert; Nindi, Stephen; Graae, Bente J; Nielsen, Martin R; John, Bukombe; Keyyu, Julius; Speed, James; Smith, Stuart; Shombe, Shombe; Ntalwila, Janemary; Ilomo, Ophery
Agro-pastoral production system in western Serengeti is subsistence oriented livelihoods directed towards attaining self-sufficiency in food and livestock production and supporting growing human population. Production strategies involves the extensive use of land cultivating for food and cash crops production, and fallowing land. Households form the basic units of production, which utilize land, family labour, livestock keeping and any capital at their disposal to meet their production goals. Livestock, especially cattle have great symbolic value regarded as a bank on hoves, and a basis for various traditional transactions that makes households strive to increase livestock capital. Analysis of crops production and livestock population trends reveal that agro-pastoral system expand due to increase in prices of livestock products. Paucity of land to absorb the growing human and livestock population caused the political and administrative machinery to develop and implement village land use plans to ensure proper land utilization. However, introduction of land use plans alone is not a panacea to land use problems in villages. It was envisaged that land use plan should be accompanied by introduction of sustainable crops and livestock production systems by improving productivity of land in terms of pasture and crops to support the current human and livestock population in the Western Serengeti. The future direction of agro-pastoralism in Western Serengeti under these circumstances is not well understood. This entails a need for a multidisciplinary study of impact of agro-pastoralism on livelihood of people in Western Serengeti.
The relevance of formal and informal institutions in local chicken genetic resource conservation: a case of Igunga District, Tanzania
(2022) Kapella, Lazaro E; Nyanda, Suzana S; Mahonge, Christopher P
Understanding the relevance of institutions for local chicken (LC) genetic resource conservation forms the basis for the management of Animal Genetic Resource (AnGR). A qualitative study was conducted to assess the relevance of formal and informal institutions on LC genetic resource conservation in rural and peri-urban areas in Tanzania using Igunga district as a case study due to its substantial number of crossbred LC with exotic breeds. Primary data were collected through in-depth interviews with fourteen key informants, ten focus group discussions (FGDs) with farmers as well as documentary review of the existing formal institutions. Atlas.ti (version 7.5.7) computer software was used in the content analysis of data solicited from the key informants and FGDs. Findings show that, formal institutions have low relevance because they are inclined to LC and/ or AnGR production rather than its conservation. On the other hand, existing informal institutions such as norms, beliefs, traditional healing and sacrifice have a moderate relevance because they may serve as incentives for the conservation of LC genetic resources. The study therefore suggests that, the government should formulate or improve the existing formal institutions for effective management of AnGR.