Browsing by Author "Mahonge C.P."

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Convergence of horizontal and vertical experiential sharing through participatory feedback: the case of integrated natural resource management and livelihood improvement in Mwanga District, Tanzania
(International Journal of Research and Development in Social Sciences (IJRDS), 2016-07-25) Mahonge C.P.; Nsenga, J.V.; Mtengeti, E.J.; Mosha D. B.; Challe, J.
This paper shows how participatory feedback was adopted to converge horizontal and vertical pathways of experiential sharing encompassing actors and institutions positioned at different points of a spatial scale in Mwanga district. Participatory and representative governance approaches and methods were employed to operationalise this convergence. Sector-oriented local actors convened meetings at their respective villages and drew their perspectives then chose two representatives for each sector category to represent them during the participatory feedback workshop at Mwanga district. Local peoples’ political, technical and executive representatives including ward councilors, ward and village executive officers, and technical facilitators such as ward and village extension officers as well as district heads of departments and extension officers also participated in the workshop. The feedback unveiled the existence of poor groups’ organization for beekeeping, enhanced awareness and knowledge on the role of drought resistant crops such as sorghum, cowpeas, pigeon peas and sunflower among the farmers; and increased awareness and knowledge on the imperativity of forage conservation amongst livestock keepers, among others. It is concluded that participatory feedback is an invaluable tool for converging horizontal and vertical experiential sharing pathways and coalescing multiple levels and dimensions for improved decision making for adapting local people to adversities. It is recommended that periodic participatory feedback be institutionalized in the government development plans to periodically improve experiential sharing and communication for holistic development.
Factors in smallholder farmers’ vulnerability to climate change impacts in the Uluguru Mountains, Morogoro, Tanzania
(Springer International Publishing Switzerland, 2025) Mattee Amon Z.; Mussa K.R.; Mwaseba Dismas L.; Mahonge C.P.; Nsenga J.V.
This study assessed factors in smallholder farmers’ vulnerability to climate change impacts in the Uluguru Mountains in the Morogoro Region, Tanzania. To this end, the study first determined the smallholder farmers’ awareness and perception of climate change and identified adaptation options preferred by the farmers. A combination of methods, including focus group discussions, key informants interviews, participant observations, and household surveys, were used for data collection. The results indicate that smallholder farmers had a poor understanding of climate change issues, but their knowledge was enhanced by a project that was implemented collaboratively by Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) and Professionals for Fair Development (GRET), a French non-governmental organization (NGO). The adaptation strategies preferred by smallholder farmers included terracing, planting fruit trees, the rehabilitation of micro-irrigation canals, and fish farming. However, a noticeable disparity in preference between men and women was observed. The results further revealed that smallholder farmers were vulnerable to climate change and variation due to their limited knowledge of climate change risks, low level of literacy, limited access to climate information, and absence of farmer-based organizations to facilitate better access to credit and market services. The study concludes that crucial factors for smallholder farmers’ vulnerability to climate change in the Uluguru Mountains are access to information and resources, road and market infrastructure, and smallholder farmers’ organization.