Farming practices and environmental degradation in some communities surrounding north Pare Mountains: a case study of Mwanga district, Kilimanjaro region
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Date
2012
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Sokoine University of Agriculture
Abstract
Environmental degradation has been one of the major concerns in the 21s1 century
globally. The study on the assessment of farming practices that influence environmental
degradation along the slopes of North Pare Mountains was done in Mwanga District-
Kilimanjaro Region, Tanzania. Specific objectives of the study were to identify and
examine: various farming technologies used by the communities; to examine: farmer’s
perspectives on environmental degradation; farming methods that cause environmental
degradation and to identify measures undertaken by communities to reduce
environmental degradation. A cross-sectional research design was used. The survey
population was of smallholder farmers from four randomly selected villages. A sample
size of 120 respondents was drawn from the total population of 22 670 farmers, from
120 randomly selected smallholder farmers data were collected using questionnaire and
focus group discussion (FGD) guided by a checklist . Six Village Executive Officers
(VEOs) and five Agricultural Extension Officers were also interviewed by the researcher
to cross-check with what farmers reported. Farming practices found to influence
environmental degradation included size of farm land, cutting all trees, poor applied
simple tools in preparing land, practiced mono cropping, poor farming practiced within
the hills, overgrazing and bush-fires. Land conservation methods found to be in use were
contour and terraces cultivation, crop rotation, agro forestry, inter cropping, firebreaks
and mixed cropping. The study recommend community environmental education to be
backed by by-laws and campaigns. Service institutions should start using substitution
energy resources other than fuel wood. Useful traditional conservation methods should
be integrated with modern ones
Description
Master of arts Dissertation in rural development
Keywords
Farming practices, Environmental degradation, North Pare Mountains, Mwanga district, Kilimanjaro region