Abstract Rural livelihoods, incidence of poverty and climate change are intricately connected in the Offinso Municipality in the Ashanti region of Ghana. Conscious of the vagaries of climate change, smallholder farmers have developed adaptation measures to sustain their subsistent livelihoods. This paper examines the various on-farm adaptation measures among smallholder farmers in the Offinso municipality with the view to drawing lessons for effective policy making and implementation. A tria...
Abstract The rural people have been recognized as knowledge holders on climate change. This work examines the socio-economic imperatives of such knowledge particularly as it affects livelihood in selected forest fringe communities in Ondo State, Nigeria. Multistage random sampling technique was adopted in which 4 Local Government Areas (LGAS): Odigbo, Akure North, Owo and Idanre were randomly selected in Ondo state. In each of the LGAs, a forest reserve (Oluwa, Ala, Owo and Idanre, respectiv...
ABSTRACT Recently, there has been emergence in the use of semi-formal credit provided by devolved government in enhancing farm and off-farm enterprises. Despite the potential of the credit offered by devolved governments in terms of enhancing rural farm household welfare, little is known about the effect of this type of credit on household income. This study therefore, examined the effect of semi-formal credit use on household income in Kakamega County, Kenya. The study aimed to contribute ...
Executive Summary Presently, Nigeria is among the nations that are technically unable to meet their food supply needs from rain-fed production at a low level of inputs and appear likely to remain so even at intermediate levels of inputs at some point’s time between 2000 and 2025 (FAO 2002). For the rural areas of semi-arid Northern Nigeria, which experiences significant climatic and anthropogenic changes that have exacerbated food insecurity in the region, floodplain agriculture is criti...
ABSTRACT A study was conducted to assess the extent of community participation in solid waste management (SWM) in Mbeya City, Tanzania. Data were collected using both structured and non-structured interviews. Field observations and secondary data supplemented the data collected using questionnaires. Purposive sampling procedures were used to obtain three representative wards. At ward level, 60 respondents each from different households were picked at random for the study leading to a sample...
ABSTRACT Smallholder farmers in Kenya’s semi-arid areas of Kitui, Machakos and Makueni Counties experience food insecurity due to challenges of low, erratic and poorly distributed rainfall and poor infrastructure. To address these challenges, leaders in the region have seen the need to involve local actors in sustainable development activities. Poor performance of Multi-Stakeholder Linkages for Innovative Agricultural Development (MSLIAD) in development initiatives in the region inhibits f...
ABSTRACT Nigeria is faced with many environmental problems. Available data indicate that Nigeria is losing her renewable natural resources (including arable land, forest, pasture/rangeland and water resources) beyond sustainable limits. Economic and environmental systems interact in many important ways and hence the need to understand these interactions and develop effective public policy. While economic systems derive many invaluable inputs (some commodified, others free) from environmental...
ABSTRACT The main objective of the study was to assess the effect of certified organic production systems on the livelihood of smallholder producers in Kenya. The study followed explanatory research design using two purposively pro-poor chosen case studies (honey production in Mwingi district and vegetables production in Ngong district). Collection of primary data was through face-to-face interviews using pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire. Collection of contextual data was through focu...
ABSTRACT Changes of conservation policy from fortress to community conservation aimed at balancing sustainable conservation and rural livelihoods. However, little is known as to how much Community Based Forest Management (CBFM) approach contributed to livelihoods enhancement. Similarly, impacts of wildlife conflicts as a result of successful conservation, and causes of poverty among local communities are poorly known. This study aimed at assessing poverty traps and wildlife conflicts in Mgor...
ABSTRACT A study to assess the role of Non-timber forest products (NTFPs) was conducted to forest dependent communities around New Dabaga -Ulongambi Forest Reserve (NDUFR) in Kilolo District as a strategy to cope with the impacts of climate change. Data were collected through household questionnaires, PRA techniques, transect walk and direct field observations. Climatic data mainly rainfall and temperature for the last 30 years were obtained from Nduli Airport weather station. Data collected...
EXTENDED ABSTRACT Rice (Oryza sativa L.) plays an important role in improving household food security and national economies in Sub-Saharan Africa including Tanzania. There is an increase in annual per capita consumption of rice in Tanzania from 20.5 in 2001 to about 25 - 30 kg year-1 in 2011 coupled with an increase in population. Despite the increase in rice consumption, the current rice production in Tanzania is still as low as 2.3 t ha-1 while the potential rice yields are 4 to 10 t ha-1...
ABSTRACT The major objective of this research was to analyze supply chain of agricultural inputs in Tanzania using the subsidized fertilizer in the Southern highlands as a case study. It specifically sought to describe the subsidy fertilizer supply chain in the Southern highland zone with a view of identifying key stakeholders in the system and their linkages. The study further, aimed at examining the fertilizer consumption levels and the impact of fertilizer subsidy programme on maize produ...
EXTENDED ABSTRACT In Tanzania, limited attention has been channeled towards the assessment of the fertility status of the soils in areas perceived as suitable for agricultural activities, mainly crop production. In the absence of reliable soil fertility data and information, agricultural land use, and in particular crop production has resulted in very low yields of most of the crops, with subsequent land degradation. The Solomon Mahlangu Campus (SMC) farm – Sokoine University of Agricultu...
ABSTRACT Research and extension must collaborate effectively through research - extension –farmer linkages in order to bring increased agricultural productivity, income and reduction of rural poverty. However, these linkages have been reported to be weak. This study examined factors influencing research – extension – farmer linkages in the Western Agricultural Research Zone of Tanzania. It focused on four districts in the zone namely Kasulu and Kigoma in Kigoma Region and Urambo and Uyu...
ABSTRACT Fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) was reported for the first time in Africa in 2016 from America. FAW is widely distributed in Tanzania, causing significant damage to maize. Two factor, cropping systems and biopesticides were tested in Randomized Completely Block Design arranged in a two - way factorial experiment with three replications for their efficacy against FAW and associated parasitoids on maize field at Crop Museum of Sokoine University of Agriculture ...