Understanding the Vulnerability of Crop Production to Climatic Stresses in the Great Ruaha River sub-Basin of Tanzania

Abstract

Th is study broadens the understanding of crop production vulnerability to climatic stresses and other stressescompounding the livelihoods of smallholder farmers in rural spaces of Tanzania, using data collected over sixmonths across two years, and compared to oral testimony covering the last 40 years (1970 to 2011). Bothqualitative and quantitative data were collected covering the full spectrum of stresses and responses, such asclimatic and non-climatic (e.g. poverty, education level, household income). Th e study employed focus groupdiscussions and household questionnaire survey during data collection. Th e results show that crop yield hasdeclined over the past four decades, because of climatic stresses, such as frequent droughts, prolonged dry spellsand occasional extreme rains. Climate related stresses compound the already weak subsistence agriculture, inaddition to other stresses, such as youth migration, lack of access to irrigation infrastructure and crop markets.Challenges noted in this study are complex (both climatic and non-climatic), which shows how complex thestresses aff ecting the lives of farmers are. Addressing them generally without defi ning the underlying contexts ofeach stressor makes it even more complicated when trying to enhance the adaptive capacity of the farmers. Th us,a holistic approach by targeting the whole system dealing with the agriculture sector is recommended.