TITLE:
Assessing Vulnerability of Food Availability to Climate Change in Hai District, Kilimanjaro Region, Tanzania
AUTHORS:
Anza A. Lema, Linus K. Munishi, Patrick A. Ndakidemi
KEYWORDS:
Climate, Food Availability, Rainfall, Temperature, Hai District, Kilimanjaro Region
JOURNAL NAME:
American Journal of Climate Change,
Vol.3 No.3,
September
18,
2014
ABSTRACT: Climate change has a large effect on
agriculture sector and, consequently, on the food available for residents of
Hai District and other regions of Tanzania. Based on four decades of climate
data, this study assessed the impacts of climate change and its potential
vulnerability on food availability in Hai District, Kilimanjaro region. The
results from this study suggest an association between food crop production and
variation in climate (temperature and rainfall) in Hai District. Considering
the aspect of rainfall and temperature, we demonstrate that rainfall and
temperature have significant relationship with maize and bean outputs. The
rainfall had a strong positive association with maize and beans production and
whereas temperature had inverse relationship with maize and beans yields. With
the annual loss $0.04 million and $0.01 million per year from cattle and
goats/sheep respectively and the additional annual loss of $29 million and
$10.8 million from maize and bean crops respectively in Hai District during
years of severe and prolonged droughts, our study highlighted how severe
droughts can dramatically affect agriculture production and food security in
the area. To mitigate climate change and provide effective adaptation measures,
it is imperative to develop a broader research framework, which integrates
bio-physical and socioeconomic aspects of food systems which addresses its
vulnerability and thereby improve food security.