Adaptation to Rainfall Variability, Socioeconomic Factors Influencing Maize Production in Crop Livestock Mixed Farming Systems in Babati, Tanzania

Abstract

Agriculture is an important source of food and economic survival of rural populations in Tanzania, however farming activities are highly affected by rainfall variability which cause loss in crops and livestock yield. This study explored adaptation strategies to rainfall variability, socioeconomic factors influencing maize production in mixed farming systems. Specifically, assessed the trends in rainfall and maize production, determined the relationship between trends, identified farmers’ adaptation strategies to rainfall variability and ascertained the influence of socioeconomic factors on maize yields in the mixed farming systems. The study employed questionnaire survey method to collect household data; focus group discussions and documentary review were also conducted to complement the information. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were employed using MS excel and Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) programs. Results showed increasing trends in rainfall with high inter annual variability and decreasing trends in maize production. The relationship found to be insignificant (p value = 0.927). A9daptive capacity of the farming system to produce maize, the mixed farming system found to be efficient with the average maize yields of 2.57 tonha^-1 compared to 1.36 tonha^-1 in non-mixed. The study recommended education on environmental management to reduce the effects of inter annual rainfall variability, up scaling of the crop livestock mixed farming system and formation of farmer managed co-operatives to assist in the provision of soft loans with affordable interest rates for meeting the costs of inputs.