Journal of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences
June 2018, Vol. 7, No. 1, pp. 40-52
ISSN: 2334-2404 (Print), 2334-2412 (Online)
Copyright © The Author(s). All Rights Reserved.
Published by American Research Institute for Policy Development
DOI: 10.15640/jaes.v7n1a5
URL: https://doi.org/10.15640/jaes.v7n1a5
Mitigation and Adaptation Measures of Peri-Urban Farmers as a Response to
Climate Change in Temeke District, Dar es Salaam Region.
Samwel P. Lunyelele
1
, Josiah Z. Katani
2
and Kenneth M. K. Bengesi
3
Abstract
This paper assessed mitigation and adaptation measures used by peri-urban farmers of Temeke District
against climate change. A cross sectional design was applied of which 240 households were randomly selected
for the household surveys and focus group discussions. Qualitative data were analysed through descriptive
and inferential statistics while content analysis was used for qualitative data analysis. The findings revealed a
high level of adoption of both mitigation and adaptation measures. Kruskal Wallis Test results suggest
statistically significant difference in the level of adoption of mitigation measures across three age groups at
p<0.05. Nonetheless, there was no significant difference in the adoption of adaptation measures across three
age groups at p>0.05. The implemented mitigation measures include cultivating cover crops, alternative
energy sources, mixed farming and agroforestry. Adaptation measures comprised of drought resistant crops,
economic diversification, irrigation, mixed farming, cover crops sequential cropping and intercropping.
Conclusively, a high level of adoption of mitigation and adaptation measures indicates that they are inevitable.
Some of adaptation measures were also used as mitigation measures indicating that they are complementary
to each other. The study recommends on enhancement of existing mitigation and adaptation measures. More
studies on determinants of mitigation and adaptation measures are also recommended.
Keywords: Mitigation, adaptation, peri urban farmers, Temeke.
1. Introduction
Peri-urban farming (PUF) refers to production units close to town, which operate semi intensive or fully
commercial farms of vegetables, crops and livestock (Komirenko and Hoermann, 2008). PUF is influenced by
changes taking place in peri-urban areas such as expansion/influence of the city, high rate of land use, land cover
changes and loss of agricultural land. PUF is also associated with opportunities for commercial or market-oriented
cultivation of high-value crops (Choy et al., 2007; Simon, 2008). Besides that, PUF is constricted by increase in land
prices in peri-urban areas which poses insecurity for farmers (Mlozi et al., 2014). These features indicate that PUF is
always in transition with implication on environmental changes particularly climate change.
In Tanzania, the impacts of climate change are obvious. They include the water level drop of Lake
Tanganyika, Lake Victoria and Lake Jipe, melting of nearly eighty percent of glacier of Mount Kilimanjaro. and the
inundation of Maziwe Island in Pangani District (Boko et al., 2007). Other impacts include the prolonged droughts
and unpredictable rain cycles experienced in different parts of the country including Dar es Salaam Region (Kassenga
and Mbuligwe, 2013; Mlozi et al., 2014). These impacts necessitated assessment of mitigation and adaptation measures
among peri-urban farmers of Temeke District. Mitigation measures include initiatives to reduce emission and/or
enhance the sinks of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxides and chlorofluocarbons (IPCC,
1
Department of Development Studies, Sokoine University of Agriculture, P.O. Box 3024, Chuo Kikuu, Morogoro.
Email: samwelsunday@yahoo.co.uk,
2
Department of Forest Resources Assessment and Management, College of Forestry, Wildlife and Tourism, Sokoine University
of Agriculture, P.O. Box 3013, Chuo Kikuu, Morogoro.
3
Department of Policy, Planning and Management, College of Social Sciences and Humanities, Sokoine University of Agriculture,
P.O. Box 3035 Chuo Kikuu, Morogoro, Tanzania.