Exploring the Nexus between Agricultural Seasonal Dynamics and Rural Household Food Security in Kilombero Wetland, Morogoro Region, Tanzania

Abstract

It is recognized that wetlands have great potential for enhancing agricultural activities due to their prolonged periods of water availability and good fertile soils making great expansion and intensification of agricultural production enhancing household food security in rural areas hence, communities have been relying on those wetlands for their livelihoods in different ways. It is from this interdependence that this study was proposed to examine the seasonal patterns of agriculture in the wetland and their implications on food security in three villages, Njage, Mngeta and Mkangawalo in the Kilombero wetland. The study employed mixed method approach whereby household questionnaires,-key informant interviews, focus group discussions, field observations, wealth ranking and documentary review were used to collect primary and secondary data. Purposive and simple random sampling techniques were used to obtain 150 respondents. Content analysis was used to analyze qualitative data while descriptive statistics were used to analyze quantitative data. Chi-square test was used to test the statistical significances of the differences between wetland and upland yields as well as size of wetland plots cultivated among socio-economic groups. The findings revealed that wetland users were the average wealthy (42.7%) and poor farmers (40.7%) who depended on the wetland for their survival. Crop production in Kilombero wetland was low as farmers practiced mono-cropping of rice and maize in both dry and wet seasons depending on rain-fed agriculture. Very few wealthy (8.7%) practiced dry season farming. The small size of the wetland plots cultivated, inadequate use of agro-inputs and over dependence on subsistence led to low crop production. Consequently, farmers experienced seasonal food shortages and food insecurity, particularly among the poor and very poor households. The study concludes that, despite its agricultural potential, Kilombero wetland had not contributed much to improve the food security status of the poor and very poor households, only the well-off and average wealthy were benefiting from the wetland. Therefore, Kilombero district authorities should ensure that village governments allocate adequate land for both the poor and very poor farmers to enable them increase crop production. The agricultural extension officials of Kilombero district should build capacity to farmers on the importance of intensive agriculture, use of improved seeds and use of a variety of cropping methods in order to improve their produce.