Agricultural productivity and environmental insecurity in the Usangu plain, Tanzania: policy implications for sustainability of agriculture

Abstract

Sustainable agricultural development is a necessity for sustainable economic growth and social development in Africa. Sustainable agriculture largely depends on how effective natural and environmental resources are managed and utilized; it also depends on the security of continuous access to such resources. This research was aimed to look into trends in agricultural productivity, examine the persistence of the environmental insecurity, analyze the relationship between the two, and explore their links to the national development policies. The results are discussed in the context of relevance to national development policies and their implications on the sustainability of agriculture and rural livelihoods security. Literature survey, records collection from the stakeholders, village level participatory assessments (PAs), observations and questionnaire survey were tools used for data collection. The study shows significant (P < 0.01) declines in cereal crop yields, cattle milk yield and cattle calving rate, and increasing cattle mortality rate. Elements of environmental insecurity were found to account for decline in agricultural productivity; significant (P < 0.01) proportion (68%), of 266 households interviewed, reported land resources deterioration, declining soil fertility, and increasing drought frequencies as the causes of their low productivity. Declined fertilizer consumption and increasing variability in rainfall amount significantly (P < 0.01) accounted for 59% and Readers should send their comments on this paper to: BhaskarNath@aol.com within 3 months of publication of this issue.

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“…Our CRU analysis does not show a decrease in rainfall for 1982-2006, although a significant warming trend is observed, which may imply higher evaporation losses and hence drier conditions. Other potential drivers are rapid population growth and soil fertility decline (Enfors and Gordon 2007;Malley et al 2009) causing an increased pressure on available natural resources. These processes result in declining maize surpluses thus threatening national food security (Dixon et al 2001).…”

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“…In Tanzania, linkages of the impacts of climate change caused by environmental changes on rural livelihoods are increasingly evident (Madulu 2003;Malley et al 2007aMalley et al , 2007bMalley et al , 2008aMalley et al , 2008b. Madulu (2003) observed a strong link of poverty to change in climate.…”

“…Madulu (2003) observed a strong link of poverty to change in climate. Malley et al (2007a) analysed the semi-arid Usangu plain, SW Tanzania and found a link between increasing climate variability and increasing water stress that has caused a decline in land productive quality and a notable decline in agricultural productivity. Other effects of climate variability were increases in rural conflicts over land and water resources (Malley et al 2008b), a decline in wildlife biodiversity and energy generation capacity in Mtera (Malley et al 2007b) and health risks due to increased scarcity of water for domestic needs (Malley et al 2008a).…”