How Tanzanian pastoralists perceive climate change & its impact on cattle

The study “Climate change perception and impacts on cattle production in pastoral communities of northern Tanzania”, by Esther Kimaro et al, published in Pastoralism Research, Policy and Practice (2018 8:19), examines pastoralists’ perception of climate change and impacts on cattle production in ten villages in Monduli District in Tanzania. This study drew empirical data from 130 cattle owners and 81 participants in focus group discussions in the villages.

Pastoralists were found to be well aware of the general climate trends and variability and the impacts of extreme weather events on their cattle. The main climate changes they perceived included more erratic and lower rainfall, temperature rise, and prolonged and frequent dry periods, exacerbated by growing human population and tree cutting. Pastoralists reported that the recurrent droughts led to shortage of forage and water, cattle malnutrition and starvation, outbreaks of diseases, and reduction in milk production and livestock prices.

The implications of climate change must be taken into account to ensure longer-term survival and sustainability of pastoralist communities through strengthening of climate risk awareness programmes and early warning systems. It is recommended that government and NGOs should improve institutional support to pastoralists in order to help them deal with the negative impacts of climate change on cattle production.

Posted on 31 July 2018 in Pastoralism & Climate Change