Climate Variability and Agricultural Performance of Smallholder Farmers of Low Land Ecological Zone in Ileje District, Tanzania

Abstract

This study was conducted in order to assess the impact of climate variability on agricultural performance of smallholder farmers of Low Land Ecological Zone in Ileje District. Specifically the study intended to examine the changes that has occurred in the study area over the last five years (2006- 2010), their effects in agriculture, coping strategies adopted by farmers. The study employed a cross sectional survey and involved a total number of 104 respondents of which 99 were smallholder farmers who were selected by probability sampling and 5 were key informants who were purposively selected. Data were collected through questionnaires, interviews and documentary review and analysed by using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Descriptive statistics were run to give frequencies and percentages. Tables and figures were used to present different variables. Findings indicates that, climate variability in Ileje District have affected agricultural performance by increasing of cost of production which has been fuelled by the use of improved crop varieties as well as industrial fertilizers which are of high cost despite of being subsidized by the government. Moreover, for the last five years climate patterns have changed, whereby rains starts late compared to the past, temperature has increased together with wind. Farmers have adapted to climate variability in various ways which include selling of livestock, making charcoal and opening petty trade. It is therefore recommended/suggested that, government review its scheme on agricultural subsidies so as to find out effective way of supporting farmers, improvement of weather forecast system and review policies, strategies and institutional framework.