Differential livelihood portfolios along altitudinal gradients of Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania

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Date

2014

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Sokoine University of Agriculture

Abstract

This study was conducted in west Kirua Vunjo division in Moshi Rural district, Kilimanjaro from late 2012 to mid 2013 to assess the altitudinal differences in livelihood endowments; evaluate the altitudinal differences in coping strategies; and evaluate factors which determine the differential livelihood portfolios in the study area. The altitudinal differences in livelihood endowments were assessed using a one way analysis of variance and the altitudinal differences in coping strategies were evaluated using a chi-square test. The factors which determine differential livelihood portfolios were evaluated using a Multinomial logit regression model. The findings in this study show that there is a significant difference in livelihood endowments between communities in the upper zone (with mean of 93 250 000 TZS) and lower zone (with mean of 60 390 000 TZS). This implies that local populations living in the upper parts of Mountain Kilimanjaro have relatively better livelihoods than those living in the lower parts. However, the difference in livelihood endowments between difference was observed between the middle and the upper altitudes. The dependence on government aid was found to be a dominant coping strategy in the lower altitude, while the use of alternative crops as well as short rains were more dominant in the upper altitude. These results imply that, the households in the lower altitude are more vulnerable to disasters such as drought, floods, crops pests and diseases than are the found to have positive influence on livelihood portfolios. The presence of various institutions was also found to positively influence livelihood portfolios. The study recommends for an establishment of modern irrigation network system so as to households in the upper altitude. Also household characteristics and altitude were the lower and the middle altitudes was not statistically significant while a sligh difference was observed between the middle and the upper altitudes. The dependence on government aid was found to be a dominant coping strategy in the lower altitude, while the use of alternative crops as well as short rains were more dominant in the upper altitude. These results imply that, the households in the lower altitude are more vulnerable to disasters such as drought, floods, crops pests and diseases than are the found to have positive influence on livelihood portfolios. The presence of various institutions was also found to positively influence livelihood portfolios. The study recommends for an establishment of modern irrigation network system so as to households in the upper altitude. Also household characteristics and altitude were found to have positive influence on livelihood portfolios. The presence of various institutions was also found to positively influence livelihood portfolios. The study recommends for an establishment of modern irrigation network system so as to minimize drought borne problems, and the establishment of risk insurance so that farmers can join and get compensation in case ofshocks (drought, floods, etc).

Description

Dissertation

Keywords

Livelihood endowments, Altitudinal differences, Livelihood portfolios, Chi-square test, Mount Kilimanjaro

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