Impact of indigenous-based interventions on land conservation: a case study of a soil conservation and agroforestry project, Arumeru District, Tanzania

Abstract

Land degradation has been identified as a serious problem in Tanzania since the 1920s. Among the factors normally cited as contributing to land degradation are deforestation, overgrazing and inappropriate farming practices. Several attempts by the government to arrest the problem have been based on top-down approaches. Indigenous-based interventions are among the alternative practices adopted by the Soil Conservation and Agroforestry Project in Arumeru District, Tanzania. The main objective of this study was to assess the impact of the indigenous-based interventions on land conservation. More specifically the study intended to assess farmers' perception of land degradation, the adoption rate of indigenous-based interventions, the impact of those interventions, and lastly the sustainability of those interventions. Data for the study were collected through Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) techniques and a questionnaire survey. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS 1 ) was used to analyse quantitative data and Content and Structural-Functional Analyses were used for qualitative data. The study found that the rate of land degradation was perceived by respondents to be rather severe. The study also revealed that indigenous-based interventions, which require minimal labour and capital, have been highly adopted by many farmers while labour/capital intensive ones have been taken up by fewer farmers. In general, indigenous-based interventions appear to have eased farm operations and contributed towards increased crop yield, improved soil fertility and increased income. Success in some of the indigenous interventions warrants their wider promotion beyond the project area.

Climate variability and causes: from the perspective of the Tharaka people of eastern Kenya

“…Tharaka sub-county is predominantly inhabited by Tharaka people-a subgroup of the larger Meru ethnic group (Smucker and Wisner 2008). The sub-county has four agro-ecological zones (AEZs): lower midland (LM)4, lower midland (LM)5, intermediate lowland (IL)5, and intermediate lowland (IL)6 (Jaetzold et al 2007). Agropastoralism is the main livelihood support system.…”

“…The target study sites were Tunyai (LM4), Chiakariga (LM5), Marimanti (IL5), and Kathangacini (IL6) divisions (3rd lowest administrative unit in Kenya). Selection of study sites was based on agro-ecological zones in Tharaka sub-county (Jaetzold et al 2007). The rationale was to try as much as possible to include the diversity of environmental and climatic conditions that people experience (This approach was also used by Becken et al 2013).…”

“…Selection of respondents was informed by the number of household population at sub-location level as guided by the sub-county development officer in Tharaka. In each of the four study sites, 5% of the households were selected for interview using the method of Kajembe et al (2005). Household survey provided data on perceived variations of climate indices.…”

Socio‐Economic Determinants of Adoption of Rainwater Harvesting and Conservation Techniques in Semi‐Arid Tharaka Sub‐County, Kenya

“…The significance of extension service in the promotion of rainwater harvesting was underscored in Twomlow et al (2008) when it contributed to precision conservation agriculture in Zimbabwe. The extension services are critical in advising farmers on aspects of dimension and location of RWHC techniques, rate of application of farmyard manure among others (Kajembe et al, 2005;Micheni et al, 2004). In Tharaka, extension officers need to continue working with farmers beyond the life of the Food for Asset project if adoption and sustained use have to be realized.…”

“…Kerr & Pender (2005) suggested that promotion of soil conservation should capitalize on farmers' interest in short-term gains, sentiments supported by Hatibu & Mahoo (1999). Studies by Kajembe et al (2005) and Tesfaye et al (2014) revealed that labour, capital and awareness determine adoption of soil conservation measures in Tanzania and Ethiopia respectively. Hanjra et al (2009) found that irrigation contributes to poverty reduction, but smallholder farmers remain poor as a result of other socio-economic factors.…”