Browsing by Author "Ruheza, Sosthenes"

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The impact of land tenure and degradation on adoption of agroforestry in Uluguru mountains forest, Tanzania
(Research Gate, 2012) Ruheza, Sosthenes; Tryphone, George Muhamba; Khamis, Zuena K.
The influence of land tenure and land degradation on adoption of Agroforestry practices can not be overstated. A study was carried in Tandai village in Uluguru Mountains of Morogoro Rural District, Tanzania, to investigate on the impact of land tenure and degradation on the adoption of agroforestry methods and practices. A total of 50 heads of households, which is approximately 15% of the total number of farmers in the study area were respondents of the study. Questionnaire and checklist questions were used to collect primary data from farmers, government and Non-governmental officials respectively. Results show that although 98% of the respondents owned farmlands, 58% were not satisfied with their farm sizes. The study also revealed that 92% of the respondents said that the only way for acquiring extra farmland is through buying while 8% of the respondents said that they can inherit from their parents and/uncles. Of the respondents, 72% were aware of the causes to land degradation in their farmlands. From this study it is argued that low rate of adoption of agroforestry in Uluguru Mountains Forests might be not because of farmers’ resistance to change but due to a complex and sensitive land tenure systems which is one among other factors underpinning adoption of the practices. However, farmers’ awareness on intensity and causes of the land degradation on their farms, and their acknowledgement on the significance of agroforestry methods and practices for land conservation is a meaningful capital to facilitate adoption of the practices within the complex and sensitive land tenure system in Uluguru mountains forests.
Indigenous knowledge system and factors limiting its integration into biodiversity conservation methods in South Nguru mountain forest reserve, Tanzania
(Sokoine University of Agriculture, 2014) Ruheza, Sosthenes
This study sought to explore the existing indigenous knowledge system (IKS) in four villages bordering the South Nguru Mountain Forest Reserve; to find out its significance in the conservation of biodiversity and to examine factors that influenced the system's integration into biodiversity conservation methods in the area. Using the exploratory cross-sectional research approach, and guided by the political ecology theoiy, this study triangulated interviews, focus group discussions (FGDs) and field observation to collect data from 240 randomly selected indigenous people; 60 from each study village. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and content analysis were used to analyse quantitative and qualitative data respectively. This study revealed that IKS was embedded in the indigenous social structure and local politics, cultural norms, values and spiritual beliefs, with selective conservation. Social, demographic and economic factors were also seen to overtly influence integration of IKS into conservation methods, so was the lack of official recognition and capacity building of the indigenous social structures. In conclusion, despite Tanzania being a signatory of the 1992 Rio De Jeneiro Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Tanzania Forest Act of 2002 on active participation of indigenous people in biodiversity conservation, IKS and biodiversity conservation methods operate in a parallel and win-lose, rather than a win-win relationship. Recommendations put forth focus on official recognition of the IKS and active participation of the actors; motivation and capacity building; training on the significance of the IKS and addressing the problem of household-level poverty, while considering the demographic and socio-economic contexts of the local population.
Studies on the influence of tree tenure on the adoption of agroforestry practices in Uluguru mountains, Tanzania
(Research Gate, 2012) Ruheza, Sosthenes; Tryphone, George Muhamba; Mbwambo, Jonathan Stephen; Khamis, Zuena K.; Swella, George; Mushobozy, Deus K.
On-farm tree retention formed the basis for the present day agroforestry systems in many traditions. In the present study, we assessed the influence of tree tenure on the adoption of agroforestry practices in Uluguru Mountains, Tanzania. Results showed that most of the farmers (92%) were involved in activities related to tree planting and/or tree retaining with the number of trees planted in existing farmlands ranging between 150 to more than 300. Young respondents planted more trees compared to middle and old age groups. Household labour unit level had an influence on the number and species of plant trees planted. The study revealed that men were significantly more involved in tree planting than women. It was also found by this study that most of the respondents (82.2%) were planting trees in their farms mainly for economic gains through timber production, while 13.3% and only 4.5% of the respondents were planting trees for soil conservation and for moisture conservation respectively. Therefore, more efforts need to be directed to planting tree species that have economic benefits to farmers in order to speed up the rate of agroforestry adoption. Perceived benefits of agroforestry practices in the study areas were for its easiness in the management of trees with other crops (59%), conservation of moisture (28%) and (13%) of the respondents said see no benefit of agroforestry system.