Abstract:
Climate change and associated impacts are now widely acknowledged by most communities,
institutions and organizations in the World to be affecting people’s livelihoods. The University of Dar es
Salaam in Tanzania through the Institute of Resource Assessment (IRA) implemented a three years
research program to study the implications of climate change on natural and social systems in three
agro ecolocilal zones in Tanzania. The present paper presents finding obtained from one of the zones
studied namely semi arid central and western part. The study was conducted in two villages namely
Upungwe and Mbogwe located in Nzega District, Tabora region. A sample size of 99 people; that is,
10% of the total number of households was used for household interviews. A total of 40 people
strategically selected were involved in focus group discussion, 20 from each village. Findings show
that different ethnic groups have moved into villages in response to climate change impacts in their
areas of origin. Climate change impacts in particular increased pests associated with temper rise and
resulted in loss on various crop yields ranging from 46 to 80%. Most crops affected are in the order
cotton, rice, cassava, sweet potatoes, groundnuts and maize, respectively. Different adaptation options
were also reported but the most important was found to be different forms of linkages such as ruralurban
reported to be more viable by 39 to 68% of respondents while 48 to 62% reported such linkages
to be viable on adaptation. To strengthen adaptation rural-urban, urban-rural and rural-rural linkages
needs to be facilitated so that products and information can flow from all ends.
