Browsing by Author "Chingonikaya Emanuel E"

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    Determinants of effective livestock-based drought risk management among pastoral communities: evidence from Handeni District, Tanzania
    (College of Social Sciences and Humanities/ Sokoine University of Agriculture., 2025-05-14) Chingonikaya Emanuel E; Salehe Farida S.; Mwakalonge Hebron L.
    Drought poses a persistent threat to pastoral livelihoods globally, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions where livestock-based systems are dominant. Despite the centrality of livestock to pastoralist livelihoods, empirical knowledge on the determinants of effective drought risk management remains limited. This study investigated livestock-based risk management and coping mechanisms among 160 pastoralist households in Handeni District, Tanga Region, Tanzania. A cross-sectional design was employed, using structured questionnaires, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews. Data were analyzed using SPSS, applying multiple linear regression to identify statistically significant predictors of effective drought coping mechanisms. The regression model was statistically significant (F = 13.261, df = 9, p < 0.005), explaining 44.3% (R² = 0.443) of the variance in drought risk management effectiveness. Key predictors included herd mobility (β = 91.749, p = 0.001), pastoral systems and early warning information (β = 316.537, p < 0.001), land size (β = 2.854, p = 0.004), and access to timely markets (β = 11.516, p = 0.021). These findings underscore the critical role of mobility and access to climate and market information in enhancing pastoral resilience to drought. Notably, herd mobility was the most adopted practice, with 66.9% of respondents indicating migration in search of pasture and water as a key adaptive strategy. The study concludes that enhancing drought early warning systems, securing grazing lands, and promoting mobility-friendly policies are vital to effective livestock-based drought risk management. It recommends the integration of local knowledge systems with formal risk analysis and planning, ensuring participatory decision-making from grassroots to national levels. Strengthening institutional support, land tenure systems, and timely market access will improve adaptive capacities and contribute to sustainable pastoral livelihoods under increasing drought conditions.