Analysis of "ngitiri" as a traditional silvopastoral technology among the agropastoralists of Meatu, Shinyanga, Tanzania
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Date
1999
Authors
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Publisher
Sokoine University of Agriculture
Abstract
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.
Description
Dissertation
Keywords
Agropastoralists, Ngitiri, Land husbandry, Meatu district agropastoral, Traditional fodder reserve