TITLE:
Climate Variability, Impacts and Adaptation Strategies: The Case of Mbeya and Makete Districts in Great Ruaha Catchment in Tanzania
AUTHORS:
Shadrack Mwakalila
KEYWORDS:
Climate Variability; Peoples’ Perception; Water Resources; Great Ruaha Catchment
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Water Resource and Protection,
Vol.6 No.1,
January
23,
2014
ABSTRACT: This paper presented key findings from the study which
aimed to assess the impacts of climate variability and local adaptation
strategies in selected villages of Mbeya and Makete Districts located in the
most upper Great Ruaha River catchment in Southern Tanzania. Together, the study districts cover a wide
range of climate change related hazards. Both qualitative and quantitative
methods are used for data collection and analysis. The study shows that, there
is significant change in
pattern and amount of rainfall contributing to water stress, making people more
vulnerable. Local communities are adapting to spatial and temporal climate
variability, with varying degrees of success. Traditional smallholder irrigated
systems used as adaptation strategies for crop production are characterized by
low water use efficiency and high water losses. This implies that, if
irrigation is managed properly, it can lead to sustainable increases in small farmer’s productivity and
income, thus alleviating rural poverty and enhancing environmental management
objectives.