Climate Variability and Food Security in Tanzania. The Case of Western Bagamoyo

Abstract

Among other factors, climate variability is the most influencing factor that affects food security for sustainable development. The second idea is that, food production is necessary but not sufficient to ensure food security in the context of climate variability. This paper considers climate variability, as an indicator of climate change, on food security, hunger and water of the rural household’s sustainable development. The general objective is to examine the extent to which climate variability affects food security in Tanzania. Climatic data i.e. rainfall and temperature were collected from Meteorological station subjected to trend analysis. Agriculture and livestock production were collected from village and district agricultural and extension office subjected to regression analysis. A survey was conducted in seven villages in Western Bagamoyo using structured and non-structured households questionnaires, rural appraisal methods, focus group meetings, and key informant interviews. A total of 300 people (125 male and 175 female) were individually interviewed face to face (household survey), 28 focus group discussions (8-10 a group), 14 Participatory Rural Appraisal and 54 key informants were interviewed subjected to statistical and qualitative analysis. It was revealed that agriculture as their main source of income contributes 69.7% of income to household’s food security. Also scientific and community information showed that rainfall patterns were changing with the change of seasons that affected agriculture, water availability hence famine. Temperature change had significant effects on water bone disease, pests and post-harvest effects. It is worth noting that local communities recognize the relationship between climate variability and agriculture.



Author Information
Paschal Arsein Mugabe, University of Ghana-Legon, Ghana

Paper Information
Conference: ECSEE2015
Stream: Environmental Sustainability and Human Consumption: Food and Water

This paper is part of the ECSEE2015 Conference Proceedings (View)
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Posted by James Alexander Gordon