Abstract:
Cross sectional survey
in four villages in Ludcwa District, Tanzania. Survey was complemented by remote
sensing, documentations. Focus Group Discussions (FGDs). transect walks, and in
Information System (GIS), chi-square and logistic regression and qualitatively by
content analysis. The results showed that between 1979 and 2002. area covered by
open woodland dropped from 30 percent to live percent. In contrast, settlement with
mixed cropping increased from 15 percent to 22 percent, bushland with scattered
cropping from four percent to 16 percent, and woodland with scattered cropping
increased from 10 percent to 22 percent in the
settlement with mixed cropping and woodland with scattered cropping implied
increased continuous cultivation, shortened fallow periods, invasion of marginal
lands, drying of natural springs, change in water sources, and increased migration In
absence of land management plans and none enforcement of conservation bylaws.
weak and/or uncoordinated institutions, the change in state of land increased
encroachment of marginal lands. Furthermore, the study revealed that smallholder
of new crop varieties
and animal manure, limiting field size and increasing land fragmentation. In addition.
there was limited agricultural development, especially agricultural mechanization
apart from spraying machines for cashew nut and small irrigation scheme in Lifua
village. Moreover, 99.4 percent of farmers in the study area got new cassava varieties
was conducted to investigate change in smallholder farmers'
farmers responded to decline in soil fertility by increasing use
same period. The increase in
depth interview with key informants. Data were analyzed by Geographical
livelihoods as a result of land degradation from stratified sample of 240 households
Ill
factors on smallholder farmers' livelihoods was not uniform. Young and single
leading cattle
keepers. I he major conclusion is that the extent and magnitude of change in
smallholder farmers' livelihoods differed between villages and households. In order
to improve smallholder farmers' livelihoods, this study recommend Ludcwa District
Council to train farmers in improved livestock keeping, beekeeping, fish (arming.
and commercial tree planting which
financial constrained households in degraded lands.
