Vulnerability Assessment of the Livelihoods in Tanzania’s Semi-Arid Agro-Ecological Zone under Climate Change Scenarios
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Date
2018
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Publisher
MDPI
Abstract
Despite the established literature on the vulnerability to climate change in various parts
of Tanzania, it is worthwhile to assess the extent of this vulnerability of the peoples’ livelihoods
and predict its future outcome. This is particularly important in the vulnerable ecosystems, that is,
the semi-arid zones of Tanzania where the people’s livelihoods are highly attached to the declining
local condition. The present study aims to assess the livelihoods vulnerability in Kongwa District,
the semi-arid zone of Central Tanzania. In doing so, a wide range of methods were employed during
data collection and analyses including surveys, informative interviews, discussions and observation.
The study sampled 400 ( 10%) respondents during a survey. The Mann-Kendall Test with SPSS V20,
Microsoft Excel and Theme content techniques were used for data analyses. The results indicate
that climate stress has adversely impacted the quality of soil, vegetation, crop yields and intensified
environmental degradation. Since most people depend upon the mentioned affected aspects, it is
expected that also the level of livelihood vulnerability has elevated. Further, this situation has greatly
contributed to increased poverty and thus, propagates the “tragedy of the common” to the available
environmental resources. As a response to increased vulnerability, some farmers have abandoned
thousands of hectares of agricultural farms that seemed to be less productive. Despite this, slight
measures have been taken by both the government and other key stakeholders to limit vulnerability.
The findings of this study provide a theoretical and practical basis for coordinating a sustainable
man-environment relationship, ensuring the sustainability of the environment which is the major
source of peoples’ livelihoods.
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Keywords
Agricultural production, Climate change, Environmental sustainability, Environmental tragedy, People’s livelihoods, Semi-arid ecosystems, Vulnerability, Tanzania